Man arrested on suspicion of assault as officers recover firearm in search of property

Yesterday evening (Tuesday 21 January), we arrested a man in his 40s from North Manchester on suspicion of attempted assault and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. 

The suspect was brought to the attention of the Force Critical Wanted Unit (FCWU) on the morning of the 21 January after the team adopted the manhunt for a man wanted on suspicion of an assault and officers believed he may have access to firearms. 

That same day, the FCWU with support from our Spec Ops colleagues, located the man at an address in North Manchester and he was arrested. 

Officers conducted a search of an address where ammunition and an imitation firearm were recovered. He remains in police custody for questioning. 

Searches are ongoing. 

Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop, who leads the FCWU, said: “Thanks to the hard work of our FCWU who, working alongside Spec Ops colleagues, have located a suspect swiftly and brought him into custody.    

“The FCWU are called in to track down some of the force’s most wanted suspects, especially when they are believed to be in possession of firearms. 

“Guns pose a significant threat to our communities, and we will always seek to track them down and remove these dangerous weapons from the streets of Greater Manchester.”