Police guard homes after terror suspects arrested

Ewan Gawne,BBC News, Manchester
BBC Crime scene between Abram and the Leigh Branch of the Leeds/Liverpool canal at Pennington Wharf.BBC
Police could be seen outside one of the homes involved in Abram

Police remain at the scene of several cordoned-off homes across Greater Manchester after three men were held on suspicion of planning acts of terrorism.

The men, aged 35, 36, and 31, were arrested in raids in Bolton, Great Lever, and the Abram and Hindley areas of Wigan on Wednesday.

One of the men was dramatically held after police stormed a gym.

Mayor Andy Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester it was a "worrying development".

Dave Evans
Crankwood Road resident Dave Evans said he saw police swarm the area

Mobile phone footage shared on social media showed counter-terrorism officers bursting into the Warehouse Gym in Hindley to arrest one of the suspects as he was using a weights machine.

A resident of Crankwood Road in Abram, where another of the men was arrested, described seeing at least 20 police officers arrive with tactical support and a riot van.

Dave Evans said it was “unsettling not knowing what has gone on there and what could have happened”.

He said neighbours had tried to talk to those living in the house after they moved in during the last 12 months, but “they don’t speak”.

Police outside home on Crankwood Road
Police have remained overnight at homes where three men were arrested

Another resident Jon McIlory said it was "frightening" the arrests had happened "on my doorstep".

He said he had seen many people at the house, and had heard arguments there at night.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk