Police are urgently appealing for information and witnesses following several people being stabbed in Bury town centre earlier this week.
It comes after three teenagers have been arrested following the distressing incident.
In case you hadn’t heard about the series of events, officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to reports that three males had been stabbed in Bury town centre, close to the world-famous Bury Markets site.
The shocking incident happened in broad daylight at around 12:15pm on Monday afternoon (11 March 2024).
Police issue urgent appeal after three teens are arrested following Bury town centre stabbings / Credit: GMP
Once emergency services arrived on the scene, they did, indeed, find three males who’d sustained stab wounds, and they were subsequently rushed to hospital shortly after – although thankfully, their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
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Two of the three males have since been released from hospital, police have confirmed, but the third is still being kept in.
Since the incident, officers from GMP’s Bury district have arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of Section 18 assault, who has since been released with no further action, while another 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old male have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, and are still in police custody.
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#ARREST | At around 12.15pm yesterday afternoon (Monday 11 March 2024), officers were called to reports that three males had been stabbed in #Bury town centre.
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault.
Section 60 powers are also currently in place until 6:30pm this evening (13 March) covering areas of the town centre to help prevent further incidents, meaning officers will be able to stop and search anyone without suspicion in these areas during this time.
Police have revealed they believe the incident was a “targeted attack”.
“We believe this incident was a targeted attack, and thankfully no one has suffered life-threatening injuries,” commented Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton, of GMP’s Bury division.
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Section 60 ‘stop and search’ powers are currently in place in the above area until 6:30pm this evening / Credit: GMP
He continued: “There is not a threat to the wider public, and we also believe this was an isolated incident. You may see heightened patrols in the local area, but don’t be alarmed by this, as our officers are there to help, support and reassure the wider community.”
With a police investigation having now been opened and enquiries ongoing, GMP has issued an urgent public appeal, and is asking anyone with information to make a report to police – with this also extending to anyone who may have relevant footage, including CCTV, mobile, Ring doorbell, or dashcam footage.
You can make a report by calling 101 and quoting 1338 of 11/03/2024.
Alternatively, you can make a report anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
News
Hundreds of staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals to strike AGAIN next week
Emily Sergeant
Another round of strikes has been called at a handful of major Greater Manchester hospitals.
Amid ongoing disputes following the first set of strikes at the end of last month, it has now been announced that more than 350 Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust (NCA) employees – including nurses, clinical support workers and housekeepers – who are members of the union UNISON will once again walk out for three days next week.
According to the union, the dispute centres on the NCA’s use of an outside agency called NHS Professionals (NHSP) to manage overtime.
When covering staff shortages, workers are entitled to time-and-a-half pay – however in some cases, staff earn less than they would on a normal shift, and some have even been missing out on more than £80 per shift, the union added.
Operating theatre staff were previously on picket lines in June, and although an option to resolve the row was initially tabled by NCA bosses, this has now fallen through.
Hundreds of staff at four of Greater Manchester’s hospitals are set to strike next week / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
This means that staff at Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, and Fairfield Hospital in Bury are walking out next week on Monday 14, Tuesday 15, and Thursday 17 September.
The union’s North West regional organiser, Kevin Dolan, said the trust had given ‘no indication’ that it’s willing to re-enter negotiations, adding that operating theatre services were ‘chronically under-staffed’ and staff were choosing to work extra shifts to cover shortages.
Ahead of the August strikes, the trust declared a critical incident to help it secure extra support and keep urgent surgery running, while also announcing that some procedures would have to be postponed.
Understandably, some disruption is expected at each of the hospitals on strike days.
But Gertie Nic Philib, who is the chief people and strategy officer at the Northern Care Alliance, said that the trust will do ‘everything we can to minimise the impact on patients’ and ‘maintain high standards of care and quality at all times.’
“We also have contingency plans in place for emergency situations,” they concluded.
Featured Image – Pxhere
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Stockport man jailed for life after kidnapping and sexually assaulting teenage girl
Emily Sergeant
A Stockport man has been sentenced to life in prison after kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl on her way home from the library.
Paul Sharpe has been sentenced to life imprisonment with an eight-year minimum term in prison after being convicted of a number of offences when subjected a teenage girl to what police called a ‘terrifying ordeal’ that lasted several hours back in May 2026.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that the victim had been studying at Sale Library before beginning her journey home with friends at around 5:50pm and contacting her parents at 6:10pm to let them know she was on her way.
Twenty minutes later, she spoke to her boyfriend on the phone and said she was approximately five minutes away from home, but that her phone battery was about to die.
This was the last contact received from the victim that evening.
While walking along Bradgate Road in Altrincham, the victim noticed a grey Ford parked nearby and a man wearing a high-visibility jacket pressing doorbells in the area.
As she walked past, Sharpe approached her from behind, placed her in a headlock and threatened to stab her if she did not get into his vehicle.
Concerned that their daughter had not returned home, the victim’s family contacted police at 9:22pm to report her missing, and officers immediately launched an investigation to locate her.
Over the next several hours, the victim was subjected to and placed in a number of terrifying situations.
Sharpe drove the victim to several locations across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, before police located and arrested him at around 3:40am on 19 May 2026.
Following his arrested, 56-year-old Sharpe was convicted of kidnap, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, threats with a bladed article, and administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, annoy or aggrieve.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for a young girl who was simply making her way home,” explained Detective Inspector Karl Perry, from GMP’s Criminal Investigation Department.
“Sharpe targeted a vulnerable victim, subjected her to hours of fear and intimidation, and went on to sexually assault her.
“The victim has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Through her bravery and actions, she no doubt made it harder for Sharpe to carry out whatever acts he had planned.”
Emily Sergeant -
13th March 2024 
