GMP issue statement after video of preacher in Manchester city centre goes viral

Chris Slater

19 December 2024 at 1:14 pm·1-min read

A situation involving a preacher on Market Street "ended respectfully", Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have said. The force have issued a statement after video of the incident went viral on social media.

Footage showed a man holding a microphone preaching on Market Street, near the escalator to the food court. A uniformed officer can be seen speaking to him as a number of people kneel and pray in the background. "I was here first", the man can be heard to say to the officer.

The officer can be heard asking if the preacher will "respectfully turn it down" whilst the men pray. After speaking to a second officer the preacher then says he's "getting a drink" and walks away. There appear to be shouts of "f*** off" as he does so.

The clip has been widely shared on social media, including on X, formerly Twitter. Responding, a GMP spokesperson said: "Officers on patrol in Manchester city centre spotted a gathering of people arguing on Friday 29 November.

"Officers were there to prevent a breach of the peace as they believed the situation was escalating. The situation ended respectfully with no arrests made."

The Telegraph
A car smashed into my house – and I’m liable for the cost of repairs
“You want to get that fixed,” the man with the large dog tells me sternly. “It makes the road look terrible.” Every time someone stops in front of the bomb site that used to be our front garden, I blush. Of course, we’re the local eyesore.
The Telegraph
Transgender girl stabbed by Snapchat gang, court hears
A transgender girl was repeatedly stabbed by a group of masked youths after lying about her gender and then performing a sex act on a boy, a court has heard.
The Independent
Children’s author and husband admit to abusing their adopted children: Malnourished kids were spanked until they bled
One of the children was diagnosed with pneumonia during a hospital visit and was found with bruises and open wounds
Evening Standard
Quick thinking police emergency call handler sees through disguise to help a woman
Do you require a pizza delivery or the police? A heroic police emergency call handler has been commended for her quick-thinking after realising a call from a woman was in fact a disguise and an urgent call for help.
The Telegraph
American Primeval and the bloody truth about the Mormon massacre of 1857
Everyone knows about the events of 9/11. But few are aware that, a century and a half before, September 11 was associated with a ghastly act of violence that was similarly driven by religious zealotry and a desire to punish Americans. The events of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, which took place in early September 1857, and came to their horrific conclusion on the 11 September, have been called “the darkest deed of the 19th century”.
Hello!
The Repair Shop fans sobbing over heartbreaking fix for 'hero' dog
Suzie Fletcher and Rebecca Bissonnet were tasked with restoring important items for an owner's beloved pooch
The Independent
Black cop is accused of trafficking his white wife while flying to their honeymoon destination
Exclusive: Anthony Williams “spent his life fighting crime, and now to be accused of a crime so heinous as trafficking his own wife is unfathomable,” attorney Jasmine Rand told The Independent.
Evening Standard
Man who performed 'mobile circumcisions' on children across south of England jailed
Mohammad Siddiqui performed unnecessary painful circumcisions on children in areas including London
The Telegraph
Calls for ‘jihadi lioness’ boss of UK charity to be investigated
A UK charity is being scrutinised after reports that its boss has been hailed a “jihadi lioness” and was the recipient of an award from the “Butcher of Tehran”.
The Independent
Watch: Drug dealer stopped 223 miles from home tries to convince police he is 'on holiday‘
A drug dealer caught by police 223 miles from his home in Crewe tried to convince officers he was on holiday. Adrain Badea claimed he made the journey to Tunbridge Wells to sightsee towns across the south east of England, however a search revealed he was actually operating as a dealer for an organised crime group. Badea, 27, of Hankins Heys Lane, Crewe was charged with possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing cannabis, and driving without insurance.
CBC
Trial stayed against 98-year-old nun accused of historic sex crimes at residential and day schools
WARNING: This story contains details of abuse of children at residential schoolsThe trial of an Ottawa nun accused of sex crimes at northern Ontario residential and day schools in the 1960s and 1970s will not proceed after a stay of proceedings was granted due to evidence issues.Francoise Seguin, 98, is the third nun and eighth worker overall to face criminal charges in relation to abuse at St. Anne's Indian Residential School in Fort Albany, Ont.Seguin, of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, appe
The Telegraph
Police officers hit out at Scottish prosecutors over delays in Sturgeon case
Police officers have attacked Scottish prosecutors over delays in deciding whether to bring charges against Nicola Sturgeon.
The Telegraph
Parachuting his friend Lord Hermer into Parliament has given Starmer a headache
When Sir Keir Starmer picked his first Cabinet, Dame Emily Thornberry was waiting by the phone, ready to be appointed as Attorney General – the role she had been shadowing for the last three years.
The Independent
A 78-year-old Florida man disappeared two years ago. But his home just mysteriously went up in flames
A ‘concerned relative’ reported John Henry Mallouk missing in January 2023, but he hadn’t been heard from since August 2022, authorities say
The Telegraph
Death of former postmistress, 86, who was stabbed four times ‘was treated as non-suspicious’
The violent death of an elderly housebound widow who was stabbed four times was initially considered by police as “not suspicious”, a court heard.
PA Media: UK News
Warning issued about commenting on trial of alleged Southport attacker
The Attorney General issued the warning for editors, publishers and social media users.
The Independent
Heartbreaking moment girl, 11, is reduced to tears as she’s handcuffed after being wrongly accused of car theft
Sheriff’s deputies detain unlucky schoolgirl in Syracuse, New York, after her clothing matches description of suspected joyrider
Associated Press
Trial starts for West Virginia couple accused of subjecting their 5 children to forced labor
A witness broke down in tears as she described children carrying heavy objects on hilly terrain at the home of a West Virginia couple who were later arrested after two of their five adopted children were found locked in an outbuilding. The trial of Jeanne Kay Whitefeather and Donald Ray Lantz began Tuesday on more than a dozen counts that include forced labor, civil rights violations, human trafficking and gross child neglect. In her opening statement, assistant prosecutor Madison Tuck said evidence will show the couple forced the children to work and used them “physically, emotionally and mentally so that they would comply.”
The Guardian
Italian police accused of making female activists remove underwear and do squats
Climate activists say they were subjected to degrading treatment during questioning in Brescia on Monday
The Northern Echo
Drug conspiracy in North East prisons involving nurse uncovered
Six people have been sentenced for their parts in a drug conspiracy in North East prisons involving a prison nurse

What we know as local inquiries announced

GMP issue statement after video of preacher in Manchester city centre goes viral

Latest stories

A car smashed into my house – and I’m liable for the cost of repairs

Transgender girl stabbed by Snapchat gang, court hears

Children’s author and husband admit to abusing their adopted children: Malnourished kids were spanked until they bled

Quick thinking police emergency call handler sees through disguise to help a woman

American Primeval and the bloody truth about the Mormon massacre of 1857

The Repair Shop fans sobbing over heartbreaking fix for 'hero' dog

Black cop is accused of trafficking his white wife while flying to their honeymoon destination

Man who performed 'mobile circumcisions' on children across south of England jailed

Calls for ‘jihadi lioness’ boss of UK charity to be investigated

Watch: Drug dealer stopped 223 miles from home tries to convince police he is 'on holiday‘

Trial stayed against 98-year-old nun accused of historic sex crimes at residential and day schools

Police officers hit out at Scottish prosecutors over delays in Sturgeon case

Parachuting his friend Lord Hermer into Parliament has given Starmer a headache

A 78-year-old Florida man disappeared two years ago. But his home just mysteriously went up in flames

Death of former postmistress, 86, who was stabbed four times ‘was treated as non-suspicious’

Warning issued about commenting on trial of alleged Southport attacker

Heartbreaking moment girl, 11, is reduced to tears as she’s handcuffed after being wrongly accused of car theft

Trial starts for West Virginia couple accused of subjecting their 5 children to forced labor

Italian police accused of making female activists remove underwear and do squats

Drug conspiracy in North East prisons involving nurse uncovered