A 26-year-old man is in custody following the ordeal in Stand Lane, Radcliffe
The suspect was arrested following a stand off with officers(Image: Kenny Brown / Manchester Evening News)
A suspect was seen being detained following a six-hour stand-off with armed police in Bury on Monday (March 30). The 26-year-old man was arrested and put into the back of a police van in handcuffs after a ‘disturbance’ erupted at a massage parlour on Stand Lane, Radcliffe, at around 2.15pm.
It is understood there had been an argument at the business that then escalated involving an armed suspect. All the victims managed to escape before armed officers and counter-terrorism firearms cops arrived and cordoned off the area.
Greater Manchester Police said it was reported that threats were made by a suspect who was in possession of a blade. Video footage and pictures showed guns being pointed at the Sunflower Massage building amid the dramatic incident.
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Witnesses told how armed police and counter-terror cops were ‘yards away’ from families picking children up from nearby schools and nurseries and that officers with shields were aiming guns at windows of Sunflower Massage, close to the junction with Jackson Street.
Greater Manchester Police later confirmed that the incident was being treated as ‘isolated’ and not counter-terrorism related. A 26-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of making threats with a bladed article and taken into custody.
The suspect was detained at the scene(Image: Kenny Brown / Manchester Evening News)
The landlady of the building, Frieda Ehsan, spoke out as the police negotiations were ongoing. She told the M.E.N: “It was just before 3pm and my tenant messaged me and said ‘boss, I’m in a bit of a mess here because a guy’s come in and I need your husband to come down.’ I said to ring 999 and she did, then as soon as I came down, it had all been cordoned off.
READ MORE: Massage parlour landlady speaks out as knifeman barricades himself inside in Radcliffe armed police stand-offREAD MORE: Radcliffe incident: Police reveal more details after armed officers surround building and residents flee
“They said we can go back in once they get the guy out and check the property. First of all, I am just glad the tenant is safe, that was my main concern. I am not bothered about my property, but I am happy she is with police.
“I just live round the corner. I’ve been around here for 24 years but we’ve never come across anything like this. We own quite a few properties on Stand Lane, but we’ve never come across this.”
Armed police at the scene(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
A GMP spokesperson said: “We responded to an incident on Stand Lane, Radcliffe following reports of a disturbance at around 2:15pm. It was reported that threats were being made at the address and the suspect was believed to have been in possession of a bladed weapon.
“Thankfully, those at the address managed to get a place of safety and call police, who negotiated with the suspect inside the property. A man aged 26 has been arrested on suspicion of making threats with a bladed article and will remains in custody for questioning. This was an isolated incident and we can confirm that is has not been treated as counter terrorism related.”
As Chief Inspector Andy Wright from GMP’s Bury district added: “Our officers responded swiftly to reports of a man threatening members of the public with a knife at an address in Radcliffe earlier this afternoon.
“We understand how alarming these incidents may be to local communities and the wider public, but I would like to reassure you that this was an isolated incident and our armed officers were on scene to manage any potential risk.
“I would like to thank you all for your patience whilst our officers have been responding to this incident, and I urge anyone who may have concerns or questions to please speak with officers on scene and local patrols. They will always be happy to support.”