Truth behind armed police swarming UK park to confront man in eerie ‘suicide’ vest
Armed police have rushed to Mandley Park in Salford, Greater Manchester, with images showing officers aiming guns at a man wearing a black vest on the ground
A picture from the scene
Police in Salford, Greater Manchester were seeng racing to the scene of a man allegedly sporting an eerie “vest” in Mandley Park earlier today. Pictures from the location which is right in the heart of Manchester’s Jewish community, show officers pointing firearms at a man dressed in a jacket that resembled a ‘suicide vest’.
But the Manchester Evening News and Daily Star understands the man at the centre of the incident was believed to be wearing a weighted gym vest and was seen with skipping rope . . . while using public outdoor gym equipment.
There is not currently believed to be any wider risk to the community, it is understood. In footage shared with the MEN and seen by the Daily Star, armed police can be seen shouting at the man in a vest while he is on his knees in Mandley Park. Armed officers can be seen surrounding the man, while locals watched on.
Shops in the area immediately closed down while the incident took place, but re-opened shortly after once GMP issued the green light. And the Daily Star has confirmed that a local Jewish school was advised to “lock down” while the incident happened . . . but has since re-opened.
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement shortly after the chaotic scene took place: “We received a report of a suspicious male on Bristol Street, Salford, at around 11:52am today.”
“Officers attended and quickly established that the individual was wearing a weighted gym vest and carrying a skipping rope while exercising at an outdoor gym This was a false alarm and there is no threat to the wider community.”
Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which protects Jewish communities, had earlier said: “We are aware of a police incident in Mandley Park on Leicester Road in Salford. We are in contact with the police and CST is currently on site. Please follow police instructions until further notice.”
The A576 Leicester Road is partially blocked in both directions between Northumberland Street and Devonshire Street as officers respond to the incident.
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