News

Police investigating after ‘shoot out’ in St Peter’s Square sees three arrested

A police investigation is ongoing after a 'shoot out' in Manchester city centre that took place on Saturday - with three teenagers arrested.

The Manc The Manc - 1st March 2021
Shots were fired in St Peter’s Square on Saturday / Image: Wikipedia

A police investigation is ongoing after a ‘shoot out’ in Manchester city centre over the weekend led to three arrests.

Officers were called to reports of gunfire in St Peter’s Square on Saturday (February 27) evening.

Detectives say that a weapon was discharged from a red Ford Mondeo towards a silver Vauxhall Astra at around 8.30pm.

The Astra then collided with a lamp post, with four occupants exiting the vehicle and abandoning it on the tram tracks.

Officers have so far arrested three teenagers on suspicion of dangerous driving and possession of a firearm.

ADVERTISEMENT

Enquires are ongoing to find the other individuals involved.

Police do not currently believe that anyone was injured.

ADVERTISEMENT

Councillor Pat Karney said he was “shocked” that the incident took place and “doubly shocked” by the ages of those involved.

Superintendent Chris Hill, from GMP’s City of Manchester division, said there would be an increased police presence in the city and “anyone concerned can speak to officers.”

A cordon remained in place around St Peter’s Square on Sunday (February 28) afternoon as officers continued investigating the scene. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The Superintended added: “We regularly take strong and swift action to disrupt this criminal activity and we are doing all we can.

“There is a lot of work – which may not always be visible due to operational reasons – going on to tackle the use of firearms and disputes across Greater Manchester.

“We would like to thank Transport for Greater Manchester and members of the public who cooperated and assisted us with our investigation but we would continue to appeal for anyone with information to come forward. The information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

“Anyone with information can call 101, or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

News

Body found at Bolton restaurant and suspected cannabis farm days after fire

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A body has been found at the site of a fire in Bolton, which started above a restaurant

A body has been found at the site of a fire in Bolton, days after a blaze ripped through a restaurant.

It’s believed that the fire started on the first floor of the property, with early inquiries suggesting it may have been used as a cannabis farm.

Human remains were found at the premises on Bolton Road in Farnworth.

A criminal investigation is now underway and Greater Manchester Police are appealing for information and footage relating to the incident.

Emergency services had first been called to the area at around 1pm on Monday 27 November, to reports of a fire.

Earlier today, Saturday 2 December, a body was found during a search of the restaurant building, days after the fire.

Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Naismith of GMP Major Incident Team said: “Work is ongoing to identify the deceased and we are committed to ensuring the potential family members are fully supported and informed of updates in this investigation.

“The loss of life is a tragedy and I understand the upset this news will cause in the local community. I can assure you on behalf of the investigation team that we are determined to get to the bottom of what has occurred and establish the circumstances surrounding the fire.

“I can confirm this fire is being treated as suspicious and if there is any criminal responsibility, it will be brought to light and dealt with appropriately. We are particularly interested to hear from anyone who knows how this building was being used in the lead up to 27 November 2023.

“I would also like to appeal to anyone with information about the fire itself – including if you have any footage (such as CCTV, mobile or dashcam) – to contact GMP’s Major Incident Team.”

You can make a report by calling 0161 856 1995 quoting log number 1485 of 27/11/2023 or via the reporting function on GMP’s website: www.gmp.police.uk

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Read more

Featured image: Google Maps

News

Tameside police officers hailed ‘absolute heroes’ after saving the life of a seven-year-old girl

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Two Tameside police officers have been hailed as “absolute heroes” after saving the life of a seven-year-old little girl.

It comes after emergency services were called to an address in the Greater Manchester borough of Tameside earlier this week (29 November), and found a young girl who was struggling to breath and coughing up blood after choking on a sweet.

Police Constables Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell, from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Tameside division, were first on the scene.

To the huge relief of the girl’s parents, who were said to be “understandably distressed” and concerned for her welfare, PC Kincaid jumped straight into action and was able to utilise his first aid training to full effect by going on to successfully dislodge the sweet from the youngster’s throat, and then helping to calm her down before the paramedics arrived.

Whilst PC Kincaid looked after the little girl, PC Blundell did “everything he could” to help the parents remain calm.

Paramedics then took over once they arrived, and the young girl was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Reflecting on the incident, and hailing his officers “absolute heroes”, Superintendent Mike Walsh, from GMP’s Tameside district, said: “PCs Aaron Kincaid and James Blundell acted without hesitation during the incident, and took control of the situation that they were faced with.

“They deserve every credit for staying calm under extreme pressure and for working together as a team and utilising their training to lifesaving effect, and I’m sure the girl’s parents and family will consider them to be absolute heroes.”

“We’re both glad that we were in the right place at the right time,” PC Kincaid added.

“I have a daughter the same age as the little girl who needed our help, and I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was when she started breathing normally and said she was okay after I had managed to dislodge the sweet.

Read more:

“I remember saying, ‘Thank God for that’.

“The little girl gave me a thank you hug before she went to hospital, but I couldn’t have done what I did without PC Blundell’s assistance, so it was a real team effort.”

Featured Image – GMP

More News

The fake posters promoting crack and heroin zones.

Manchester

Someone has plastered posters advertising ‘authorised drug zones’ all over Manchester city centre

Shane MacGowan's wife emotional statement social media post

Audio

Shane MacGowan’s wife shares heartbreaking statement after The Pogues singer dies aged 65

Boroughs

GMP explains why we’ll see more police on Greater Manchester’s streets next month

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches