Nine people arrested in raids in Middleton and Langley

Police arreste man on suspicion of attempted murder

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

Nine people have been arrested in Middleton this morning, Wednesday 26 April 2006 following raids at addresses in Middleton and Langley.

At 7am officers simultaneously entered seven addresses on Ullswater Drive, Barlyfield Walk and Mellalieu Street in Middleton, and Styhead Drive in Langley.

A 17 year old boy from Middleton was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. An 18 year old man from Middleton was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of a suspected class A drug. A 19 year old man from Middleton was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and cultivating cannabis.

A 48 year old man from Middleton was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis, a 25 year old woman from Langley was arrested on suspicion of deception and an 18 year old man from Middleton was arrested on suspicion of breach of a court order.

A 43 year old man from Middleton was arrested on suspicion of theft, a 22 year old man from Middleton was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class a drugs and a 42 year old man from Middleton was arrested on suspicion of theft.

The warrants were executed following a series of incidents in which shots were fired in the Langley area earlier this month.

The first incident happened on Sunday 9 April 2006 on Lower Bamford Close. At approximately 11.30pm that evening five bullets were fired at a house. No-one was injured.

Later that week, on Thursday 13 April 2006 at 10.30pm, police were called to Myrtle Road in Langley following a report that shots had been fired at a house causing damage to the door and windows. Several people were in the house at the time, but no-one was injured.

The following evening, Friday 14 April 2006, police received reports of shots being fired at three other addresses in the Langley area.

The first was at approximately 11.10pm when shots were fired at an address on Higher Wood Street.

Minutes later, shots were fired at the windows of the Kings Arms pub on Higher Wood Street. There were customers in the pub at the time, but no-one was injured.

A short time later, at approximately 11.45pm, officers were called to an address on Wood Street following reports that shots had been fired at a house.

No-one was injured during any of the incidents.

Following the incidents police launched a high profile policing operation in order to reassure the local community and gather intelligence about the people responsible for these incidents.

In response to this intelligence warrants were executed at seven addresses targeting four people.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff MCMAHON from the Rochdale CID said: "I would like to make it absolutely clear that the use of guns will not be tolerated on the streets of Middleton.

"We take all reports of gun crime very seriously and a dedicated team of officers have been working around the clock to identify and trace the people responsible for these incidents.

"I understand that local residents will be very concerned by these incidents. But I hope today's action shows that we are determined to keep firearms off the streets of Middleton."

"The help and support of the local community is the key to helping us to tackle this sort of crime and we are happy to speak to anyone who has any further information on this in the strictest of confidence."

Anyone who has any further information on these incidents, or who has any information about gun crime in Middleton, is asked to contact CID at Rochdale on 0161 856 4644 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.