Newton Street, Manchester. Image: Steve Daniels

Over the weekend, police flooded Newton Street in Manchester and Lancaster Road in Salford to carry out a Counter Terrorism Policing Investigation and arrested two suspects.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘the two men arrested are in police custody for questioning’ and ‘there is nothing to suggest that there is any wider threat to the public at this point in time’. They also noted that ‘the nature of this situation is likely to cause concern, but we remain committed to providing reassurance and support to communities’.

The suspects were arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which outlines that “a constable may arrest without a warrant a person whom he reasonably suspects to be a terrorist”.

Following the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, alongside the Heaton Park synagogue assault in 2025, Greater Manchester has been subjected to major terrorist attacks in recent years.

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Despite there being no immediate danger, this case continues to raise questions about the presence of terrorism in Greater Manchester.

Police have not released any further details around the circumstances of the arrests while the investigation is ongoing.

If you witness anything you believe to be suspicious, you can report it through gov.uk/ACT or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline (0800 789 321).