Man arrested on Manchester street for threatening police officer at gunpoint

A 32-year-old man, suspected of threatening a police officer on duty in Salford, has been arrested in a planned operation on Wednesday (21).

A team of officers including armed force and helicopter search carried the operation. The suspect was arrested past 10 pm on Wednesday, in Whalley Range.

The arrest was for the suspicion of firearm possession, which is a social threat, and for the possession of Class A drugs with an intention of supply. The team could recover a firearm from the suspect. Along with him, two women, aged 56 and 33, were also arrested for allegedly helping the offender.

The incident that led to this arrest took place on Monday, when the police officers attempted to stop a group of irresponsible e-bikers with anti-social behaviour on Great Clowes Street. One man among the riders kept an officer at gunpoint before fleeing the scene.

After a taser was deployed, police, the NPAS helicopter and armed forced teamed up for immediate search operation.

Followed by this, two men, aged 20 and 21 were detained from North George Street. They are kept in police custody to investigate further possession of firearms or drugs.

“This was a frightening and totally unacceptable incident that occurred in broad daylight. There is no place for guns on our streets and this positive action takes another firearm off the streets, a firearm that could have been used for a criminal purpose” said Simon Moyles, Detective Superintendent from Salford District. The officers involved in the incident will also be protected, he added.

The search operation for people with illegal possession of firearms and drugs continues in Manchester. The officers urge the citizens to be cooperative with them to maintain the peace of their locality.

The Great Manchester Police have discovered around 300 firearms, nearly a third of them being blank-firing arms, since April 2021. Around 76 blank-firers and a large number weapons were recovered through their weapons surrender scheme, in February 2025.

“If you have any information or CCTV from the area, please call us on 0161 856 4477 quoting log 1480 of 20/05/25. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111,” Detective Moyles informed. Citizens can also report footage and evidence via the GMP Evidence Portal https://gmp.uk.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/AlbertParkFirearmsIncident.