Counter terror officers armed with assault rifles raided a property in Rochdale on Saturday evening
Neighbours have spoken of the moment counter terror officers raided a house in Rochdale – before police ‘swarmed’ the street.
CTSFO (Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officer) officers armed with assault rifles were seen entering a property on East Street, off Rochdale Road, next to the Firgrove Playing Field, at around 5.45pm on Saturday.
In a video shared with the M.E.N. armed personnel can be seen around a house before a shirtless man is then led out.
People who live nearby reported hearing a ‘loud bang’ moments before the home was stormed.
One neighbour, who works in nearby Malik’s Mini Mart, said: “We heard bangs that sounded like gunshots. There was loads of police vans, forensics. Suddenly hundreds of police here and they were here for hours.”
Another neighbour said: “I was sat in the living room and I heard a bang. I thought the neighbours had dropping something heavy.
“Then I could hear a ruckus of vehicles. I went for a fag round my back garden when suddenly I see a fully armed police officer cocking a gun. I asked her what’s going in and she said get back inside. Then they just swarmed from both sides.
“I went upstairs to the bedroom and police swarmed. I think they blew the door off – there was that gunpowder smell.
“Then they threw a gas canister in there and raided the house. I heard him screaming. There were police with guns pointing at the window.
“Then the forensic team came and they were combing the garden.
“It’s quite scary, quite unnerving when it’s so close at hand.”
Anorger witness added: “I was walking past along the playing fields and heard a big bang like a bomb going off, it would have been around 5:45pm.
“But it was a really quick response between the time when the sound went off and when they got here and I heard the sirens. It was a few minutes. I just saw pure police.”
Up to 15 police vans and cars were seen around the area.
The property remained cordoned off on Saturday night.
Greater Manchester Police have been approached for further information.
