Police helicopter scrambled amid knifepoint robberies across Manchester

A police helicopter was scrambled after a series of terrifying knifepoint robberies in Greater Manchester by machete wielding thugs.

Officers were initially called to reports of a robbery in Clifton Country Park in Salford at around 3pm on Wednesday (October 23). Further reports then came in from Farnworth of a group of men with machetes on stolen e-bikes threatening members of the public and stealing other bikes.

Enquiries revealed it was the same group involved in the Salford incident who had travelled across parts of Greater Manchester in a bid to evade police.

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Specialist officers and the NPAS helicopter were deployed, who later pursued and cornered the suspects on Parkfield Road, Bolton a short time later that afternoon.

Following a search of an address, after items were seen to be disposed of and whilst conducting the arrests, a response vehicle was severely damaged.

Five men aged between 18 and 55 have been arrested in relation to knifepoint robberies and remain in custody on suspicion of supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug and having offensive weapons.

Detectives are continuing to investigate, and enquiries suggest this group are linked to other previous incidents in neighbouring Bury.

Superintendent Ian Jones from GMP's Bolton district said: “This fast-paced incident and response has resulted us in not only detaining a group who were causing havoc but indicates they have been doing this for some time.

“As we look to unpick further what has happened, I would like to thank members of the community who contacted us yesterday with their concerns when seeing them out and about.

“To those who took it upon themselves to vandalise a response car and disrupt our officers duties that is beyond unacceptable. That means we now have one less car as part of our fleet to get to other incidents to help our communities in their hour of need.”

If anyone has additional information that may help detectives with their enquiries, they are asked to call 101 in confidence quoting incident 1745 of 24/10/2024. Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.