Police destroy 'viable explosive device' found in Greater Manchester

Police say incident is not believed to be terror-related after arresting five people

Five people have been arrested after police discovered a suspected homemade bomb at a house in Manchester.

A controlled explosion was carried out to destroy the device in Heywood on Thursday night.

Greater Manchester Police said it was discovered by officers searching the property as part of an ongoing investigation into the theft of a motorbike.

“Bomb disposal officers attended and safely carried out a controlled explosion on a field nearby,” a spokesperson added.

“Immediate surrounding properties were evacuated as a precaution but residents have now been able to return to their homes.”

A 25-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were arrested, alongside a 17-year-old girl and two women aged 24 and 41, on suspicion of Explosives Act offences. They remain in custody for questioning.

Chief Inspector Mark Warner, of Rochdale police, said: “I understand this will have caused concern to the community but the device has now been safely dealt with and we do not believe there to be any wider threat. We have five people in custody and enquiries are continuing.

“Whilst the device is believed to have been viable, the investigation is being led by Rochdale CID and is not currently being treated as terrorism related.

“I would urge anyone with any information to please get in touch as soon as possible so that we can piece together the circumstances surrounding this discovery.”

The incident came days after a suspected Islamist terror attack at a Manchester railway station, metres from where an Isis-supporting suicide bomber killed 22 victims in May 2017.

Three people – a middle-aged couple and a police officer who tackled the suspect – were injured in the knife attack at Manchester Victoria station on 31 December.

The suspect, a 25-year-old man from the Cheetham Hill are of Manchester, has been detained under the Mental Health Act and is being held at a secure medical facility.

Police did not give any details of the man’s motivation, after he was filmed shouting “long live the caliphate” and “Allahu akbar”.

“In the coming months whilst the man is detained and being assessed under the Mental Health Act, the investigation will carry on as usual searching for evidence and investigators will be consulting with medical specialists and the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to any potential criminal prosecution,” a spokesperson said.

Anyone with information on the Heywood incident is asked to call police on 0161 856 8437 or 101 quoting incident number 1690 of 03/01/2018, or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.