Four Knife and Bat Attacks Shake Bury Town Centre
Four terrifying incidents unfolded in Bury over two days, leaving locals on edge. The first three attacks hit on the evening of Wednesday, March 9, 2022, while the fourth struck the following afternoon.
Knife Threat at Moor Street
At around 8.30pm on March 9, two masked men confronted a victim near Subway on Moor Street. They brandished a knife and demanded money but bolted empty-handed. The offenders were described as two skinny Asian males, about 5ft 10ins tall, wearing balaclavas and dark tracksuits.
Baseball Bat Scare on Brunswick Street
Just ten minutes later, at 8.40pm, two teenage males armed with baseball bats approached a woman at the junction of Brunswick Street and Moor Road/Hornby Street. When they tried to check her bag, a passerby courageously stepped in, chasing them off towards KFC. The attackers were reportedly two Asian lads, around 14 years old, dressed head-to-toe in black tracksuits with ski masks.
Bag Snatch on Moor Street Footpath
Shortly after 9pm, a woman walking between Tesco in Woodfield’s and Moor Street was followed by two men demanding to see her bag. When they realised she had no cash, they let her go. One was a white male, 18, 5ft8-5ft10, with short curly blonde/ginger hair, wearing a grey hoodie and carrying a gold baseball bat. The other was an Asian male, 5ft 6ins, in black balaclava and gloves, speaking with a local accent.
Phones Snatched in Tithebarn
The final attack came around 3.30pm on March 10 in the Tithebarn area. Two Asian males, both about 18 and 5ft 6ins tall, wearing all black and balaclavas, mugged two victims and stole their mobile phones.
Police Appeal and Action
Chief Inspector Matt Oxley from GMP’s Bury Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Thankfully no one was injured during these incidents. It’s understandable the events over the last couple of days have caused concern in the local community. We are doing all we can to locate the offenders and are following several lines of enquiry.”
“Expect increased police presence in Bury town centre from this week. Anyone concerned should speak to our officers. We also urge anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward, especially the member of the public who stepped in to help one of the victims.”
Witnesses or anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 68257. After 11pm, dial 0161 856 68172 quoting log 2967 of March 9, 2022. Reports can also be made online at www.gmp.police.uk.
