Three firearms recovered as GMP's Challenger team execute warrant in Moss Side

Three suspected firearms were recovered this morning, as Greater Manchester Police's City of Manchester Challenger team executed a warrant in Horace Barnes Close, Moss Side.

The City of Manchester team conducted the raid as part of an intelligence led operation.

Two males, aged 17 and 57, and three women, aged 19, 23, and 51, have been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences. They remain in custody for questioning.

The suspected firearms – a handgun and two shotguns – have now been sent off for forensic and expert examination, to assess their classification and viability.

Programme Challenger is Greater Manchester’s response to tackling serious and organised crime.

It tackles all manner of serious crime: county lines, exploitation of young children and vulnerable adults, modern slavery, immigration and economic crime and the use of firearms.

Detective Inspector Christopher Woodburn, from GMP’s City of Manchester Challenger team, said: “This is a fantastic result for our team, as we are committed to ridding Greater Manchester’s streets of weapons used to threaten and harm people across communities.

“The items are now being examined and assessed, in which specialists will determine their viability and classification – which will provide further information as we progress our investigation.

“I would urge anyone to get in touch with us if they have any information about illegal weapons on our streets. You can do this anonymously if you wish – any information you provide could well end up saving a life.”

You can contact police by calling 101, or via our website at gmp.police.uk.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.