Serious incident on Green Lane, Heywood

Road closure on Green Lane

Five people have been arrested following a robbery in Heywood this morning, Friday 26 July 2013.

Shortly before 6.10am police received a report of a robbery on a taxi driver on Green Lane, Heywood.

Moments after this robbery, some of the offenders are believed to have gone into a nearby house. The resulting disturbance saw two men receiving a number of stab wounds.

Both were taken to hospital where one is in a serious condition, while the other is serious, but stable.

Five men have been arrested in connection with this incident, three for section 18 wounding and two for attempted murder.

A section of Green Lane is currently closed to vehicles and pedestrians and is likely to be closed until at least late this afternoon while the scene is examined.

Inspector Gary Hall, of the Rochdale South INPT, said: "At this stage we are dealing with two incidents which happened in quick succession and are linked.

"There was the initial robbery on the taxi driver, in which thankfully he wasn't seriously injured, quickly followed by the disturbance in the nearby house.

"It would appear that two men received some nasty stab injuries during this second incident and they are now being treated in hospital.

"It is very early days in the investigation and, at the moment, it is a somewhat confusing picture. We do believe however that this is an isolated incident and there is no wider threat to anyone else.

"Green Lane will be closed for several hours today so we ask that residents are patient and hopefully reassured by the extra police presence.

"We are speaking to witnesses to build up a picture of what happened and what lies behind this. If you know anything, or saw what happened, then please call the police.⿝
Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.