UK News
Greater Manchester Police assures there’s ‘no threat’ to the public after second ‘suspicious white powder’ alert in four days
Manchester Arndale was evacuated yesterday evening, only four days after a similar incident occurred at a Piccadilly office block.
Greater Manchester Police has assured the public that there is currently “no threat” following the evacuation of the Arndale centre yesterday evening.
The city centre shopping mall was evacuated due to a “suspicious white powder”.
A member of staff reported the discovery of the powder in an envelope within the centre, and shortly after, police, firefighters and paramedics went to the scene and people were urged to stay away from the city centre following the alert at 5:15pm, with a number of nearby roads temporarily closed.
GMP’s City Centre policing team took to Twitter shortly after the alert to issue an update, reading: “We’re responding to reports of a suspicious white powder discovered by a staff member at the Arndale Centre.
“A partial evacuation of the Centre has taken place while an initial assessment by the fire service takes place.
“Please stay away from the area at this time.”
Greater Manchester Police then offered some follow-up assurance shortly after: “There is not believed to be a wider threat to the public at this time but people are advised to stay away from the cordoned area while emergency services respond.”
The incident came to an end two hours later when the powder was examined by fire service hazardous materials experts and found to be “non-toxic”.
Confirming the chain of events in a later statement released to social media, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Police were called at around 5.15pm on Thursday 27 May to a report of an unknown suspicious powder found inside an envelope in the Arndale Centre by a member of staff,”
“Emergency services responded and the centre was partially evacuated as a precaution. Enquires have since established the powder is non-toxic and that there is no threat to the public.
“All cordons and road closures are being lifted.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service also added: “Just after 5pm on Thursday 27 May, fire crews were called to reports of a suspicious white powder discovered at the Arndale Centre, Manchester.
“Two fire engines from Manchester Central and Salford fire stations arrived quickly at the scene [and] a GMFRS hazardous materials and environmental protection officer conducted an assessment before handing over to colleagues from Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
“GMFRS crews were in attendance for around two hours.”
The evacuation of the Arndale centre is the second almost identical incident in the city centre in four days after a “suspicious powder” was also reported to have been delivered in an envelope to a Piccadilly office block on Monday.
Piccadilly Gate on Store Street was evacuated as a precaution after the incident at around 2.30pm on Monday.
This powder was also later revealed to be “non-toxic”.
Featured Image – Twitter (@melhoare)
UK News
Streamer AngryGinge ‘arrested and banned’ from Silvestone at the British GP
Danny Jones
Popular Manc influencer, ‘AngryGinge’, was arrested, fined and ultimately banned from Silverstone at this year’s British GP.
The Salford-born Twitch streamer, YouTuber and social media personality (real name Morgan Burtwhistle) was detained at the circuit after being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
Ginge recently starred in Soccer Aid 2025 and is a well-known face both on the internet and in the sporting world, regularly working in and around football, and is an avid Manchester United – even featuring in the club’s third kit launch video last year.
The 23-year-old and two other fellow streamers, ‘Chazza’ and ‘Samham’, were accused of criminal damage after sitting in an F1 car whilst recording around the Silverstone complex.
According to reports, Ginge and his peers were alleged to have broken part of a display vehicle.
The local lad claimed they had been asked to pay £30,000 in compensation; national outlet talkSPORT has since confirmed the story with Northampton Police (NP) via an official statement.
“On Friday, July 4, NP received a report that a classic Formula 1 car on display at Silverstone Circuit during the British Grand Prix event had sustained several thousands of pounds worth of damage, which was alleged to have been caused by someone accessing the display stand and climbing into the vehicle.
“Officers carried out initial inquiries, and suspects were identified. Three men, aged 23, 25 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle and taken into police custody.
“Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident, all three men were released with no further action.”
He and his friends have at least seen the funny side, sharing snaps from outside Northampton Justice Centre; Ginge even played ‘Locked Up’ by Akon as he walked out on stream in an orange jumpsuit.
Burtwhistle went into more detail on the incident on socials, explaining that the trio were taken away in handcuffs and “locked up” for several hours – 15 hours, according to SamHam (Samuel Imie).
All three individuals deny causing any damage to the racecar, even despite users sharing clips from the livestream footage captured for the Red Bull online Content on the day that many argue incriminates them, or at least sounds like it – we’ll let you watch and decide for yourselves.
Ginge himself went on to detail that ridculousness of the situation, explaining how he was effectively detained for watching someone else climb into the vehicle.
He’ll be dining out in this one for some time, you can be sure of that.
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Featured Images — Soccer Aid/angryginge13 (screenshot via Twitch)/Samham (via X)
UK News
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton is coming out of retirement after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Mancunian and British boxing legend Ricky Hatton MBE is coming out of retirement after more than a decade for his first competitive fight in 13 long years.
This is sure to be one to watch.
The Stockport-born and Hattersley-raised fighter first retired back in 2011, but did flirt with a comeback a year later in what turned out to be a one-off fight and defeat to 35-year-old Ukrainian welterweight, Vyacheslav Senchenko.
‘Hitman’ Hatton also got back in the ring for an exhibition match against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, enduring eight two-minute rounds after a decade away from fighting, but now he’ll be undertaking an official fight over in the United Arab Emirates.
Lacing up his gloves at 46 years old, Hatton will be facing fellow veteran Eisa Al Dah (same age), who was the first professional boxer in the UAE.
The ‘Pride of Hyde’ may have been out of the competitive sporting sphere for a while, but he’s still remained an active figure in the boxing world.
In addition to training his son, Campbell, who has followed in his father’s fighting footsteps, Hatton has continued to coach other young boxing talents from his gym in Tameside, including John Hedges and Chloe Watson.
Campbell, 24, has won 14 of his 16 fights, losing just twice since he began in 2021.
Meanwhile, his dad – who still boasts a record of 45 victories from 48 matches, 32 of which were by knockout – will be once again focusing on getting himself back in fighting shape for the Dubai bout.
The local athlete has done plenty to dispel the old jabs of ‘Ricky Fatton’ in recent times, mind you, having taken his talents as a once-promising young footballer to play in the Manchester Remembers charity match, as well as the aforementioned Barrera exhibition.
Set for this winter, Ricky Hatton will face fellow veteran Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight contest on Friday, 2 December, telling national media via video call in the recent press conference that confirmed he would be coming out of retirement: “What you’re trying to do there for boxing in Dubai is fantastic.”
Meanwhile, Al Dah added: “It will be a true fight, true action. And I will do my best, because everybody in the UAE and the Gulf, they will watch this fight. The place will be sold out, and it will be watched around the world.”
Will those Haymakers still hit like they used to? Well shall see before the end of the year.
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Featured Images — Russell Harry Lee (via Flickr)/Eisa Al Dah (screenshot via Instagram)