Terrified residents watch as teenagers hurl bricks at officers and torch vehicles in ‘pretty intense’ scenes on Lower Broughton Road
Shocking scenes of violence erupted on the streets of Salford this afternoon as up to 60 masked youths went on a terrifying rampage, smashing cars, attacking police and leaving residents cowering in fear.
Greater Manchester Police rushed riot officers to Lower Broughton Road after the mob descended on the residential street, hurling bricks and stones while circling the area menacingly on dirt bikes.
In what police are calling “serious disorder,” the teenage gang left a trail of destruction that saw at least one car completely destroyed and a police vehicle damaged in the mayhem.
One person has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer as authorities scrambled to contain the violence with an emergency dispersal order.
‘Windows Stoved In’
A shaken witness at the scene painted a picture of utter chaos as the masked mob terrorized the neighborhood in broad daylight.
“There is a Fiat 500 which has been completely smashed in. Its windows have been stoved in,” the witness told the Manchester Evening News, describing the aftermath as “pretty intense.
The eyewitness estimated between 50 and 60 teenagers and young people were “hanging round” the area as bricks and stones littered the road like a battlefield.
The police are here, but they’re circling around at the moment,” they added. “At a rough guess I’d say there are about 50-60 people hanging about, but a lot of residents are also coming out.”
Riot Police Deploy
Dramatic footage from the scene shows crowds of riot police flooding the area as the situation spiraled out of control this afternoon.
Videos circulating on social media capture youths on dirt bikes weaving through the streets as officers attempted to restore order to the terrorized neighborhood.
The scale of the response underlines the severity of the disorder, with multiple police units dispatched to contain the violence that has shocked local residents.
Police Vow Crackdown
Greater Manchester Police moved swiftly to implement a dispersal order, giving officers enhanced powers to break up groups and order troublemakers to leave the area.
In a stern statement, the force declared: “Officers are currently dealing with serious disorder on Lower Broughton Road in Salford and there is a dispersal order in place.”
Behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated and we will respond accordingly,” police vowed, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to the shocking violence.
Officer Attacked, Police Car Damaged
The violence took an even more serious turn with confirmation that an officer had been assaulted during the disorder.
We have made an arrest on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and one of our vehicles has been damaged,” Greater Manchester Police confirmed in an update.
The attack on police represents a dangerous escalation in what appears to be organized street violence involving dozens of masked youths.
Residents Live in Fear
The shocking scenes have left residents questioning their safety as masked mobs brazenly terrorize their streets in broad daylight.
Lower Broughton has seen previous incidents of youth disorder, with police having issued dispersal orders in the area before – but today’s violence marks a frightening escalation.
The witness’s observation that “a lot of residents are also coming out” suggests locals are increasingly concerned about the deteriorating situation on their doorsteps.
Breaking News Development
This is a breaking news story with Greater Manchester Police continuing their operation to restore order to the area.
The dispersal order gives police powers to order groups to disperse and not return to the area for a specified period, with those refusing facing arrest.
As investigations continue into today’s shocking disorder, questions will be asked about how a mob of up to 60 youths was able to organize and unleash such violence on a residential street.
The incident comes amid growing concerns about youth violence and anti-social behavior across Greater Manchester, with today’s scenes in Salford representing a brazen challenge to law and order.
