Armed police and helicopter swarm city estate as streets on lockdown (2025)

Dozens of police officers have descended on residential streets, including Romney Street and Littleton Road, in Salford, Greater Manchester, following reports of a serious incident

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Armed officers and a police helicopter swarmed a residential area of Salford last night.

Residents said "at least 30" officers have descended on Romney Street and Littleton Road near the Pendleton part of the city. A cordon was put in place on those two roads, which are residential streets near the River Irwell. Multiple ambulances also raced to the scene earlier this evening.

Unconfirmed reports, which The Mirror is yet to confirm, suggest it was a gunfire incident. A police helicopter was seen circling the scene of the incident earlier tonight. Flight paths show the helicopter searching over the Salford area.

Writing on Facebook, residents shared their concern. One said: "Loads of police at the petrol garage." Another posted: "Helicopter flying over for a bit now." A third shared: "What's going on with all the helicopters and the police in the area? Is everyone okay?" The Mirror understands residents have been evacuated amid the police operation.

One resident of Romney Street said the incident erupted after a house party. Videos show a large number of youths in the street. One resident said: "All of them were just being loud, I started recording to send it to my landlord which is the exact moment couple of boys started running, and then a guy on a bike with a lot of lights pulled out a handheld gun and he didn’t let it off, he just pulled it and aimed it."

At least nine police vans were at the scene, reports Manchester Evening News. Multiple cordons remain in place, with CSI teams and plain-clothed detectives at the scene. The publication contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.

Bystanders were told to "evacuate the area" as multiple streets were cordoned off this evening, according to witnesses. One said: "We got told by a member of the public someone was seriously hurt and everybody had to evacuate the area."

The incident has happened near the Buile Hill area where, last week, a fire sent huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed fire engines had been sent to Duchy Road on April 8. One user took to X to share a picture of the view from The Quays in Salford toward Salford Precinct, with a towering plume of smoke seen dominating the skyline.

Smoke was seen rising from Salford, as well as Whitefield, which is in Bury, Greater Manchester. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service had said: "At shortly before 1.50pm on Tuesday two fire engines from Agecroft, Broughton and Salford fire stations were called to a fire involving a large pile of tyres off Duchy Road, Salford. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using jets to tackle the fire. Crews remain in attendance."

Duchy Road lies between Salford and Pendlebury, running through a housing estate, down the side of a large green space and football pitches before intersecting with an industrial estate area. Concerned residents took to social media to share pictures and videos of the smoke dominating the skyline.

Many were asking for more information on the fire shortly after fire crews say it broke out with one user asking: "Anyone know where the Salford fire is? Looks to be north-west of the uni?"

Another said: "Whatever the big fire in Salford is, it can also be seen from Whitefield". While a third just stated: "Something is on fire in Salford."

• Since The Mirror published this story, Greater Manchester Police confirmed seven people have been arrested in connection with this incident; a man, aged 54, on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and six teenagers, aged 16-18, on suspicion of affray