Witnesses were reportedly ‘in tears’
Officers in attendance at the scene(Image: Submitted)
Three men have been arrested after armed police were called out to an antiques event in Swinton. The Masonic Hall, on Hospital Road, was ‘locked down’ as three men held up a vintage jewellery and antiques event ‘with a BB gun’.
Witnesses reported seeing three men barge into the venue, with one shouting ‘don’t move’ while holding what appeared to be a BB gun. In an update issued this afternoon (Friday), GMP confirmed that two 52-year-old men and a 60-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery in connection with the incident.
The trio remain in custody for questioning at this time. The carnage unfolded at around 11.30am on Wednesday morning (May 27).
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“There were children crying, and old ladies,” a witness told the Manchester Evening News. He added: “Three lads ran in… one with a gun, one with a baseball bat, and then one who waited in the hallway. The guy with the gun shouted ‘don’t anyone move’.
“There was a guy buying gold and silver who jumped up, grabbed the guy with the gun and then shouted out to his mate, who hit his head with the bat. Then I ran at them, picked up a chair and threw it at the lad. Then they ran out.”
Officers in attendance at the Masonic Hall(Image: Submitted)
One member of the public sustained a minor injury. In a previous statement, Detective Inspector Paul Davies, from GMP’s Salford district, said: “This was a terrifying incident for those in attendance at the hall, and I want to commend the members of the public who acted incredibly bravely during this incident. We could easily have had more serious consequences, and I am glad that no-one was seriously injured.”