Moment machete-wielding man caught after causing terror in town centre

A town centre was locked down after members of the public saw a 'gang armed with a machete' running riot.

Wigan town centre was locked down, with shops shutting for their own protection, as police pursued a group of men brandishing a machete on Thursday, May 9.

Bodycam footage, shared by Greater Manchester Police, showed the moment police arrested a man who was detained at the bus station, on suspicion of carrying a bladed article - the MEN reports.

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Two additional men, believed to be connected to the event, were taken into custody on Frog Lane, suspected of possessing an offensive weapon. GMP has confirmed that two knives were seized and all three individuals are still held in custody as of this morning (Friday).

Inspector Sam Davies of GMP's Wigan district commented: "This was a really frightening incident for the public, with local shops making the decision to lockdown for their safety. Thankfully, no members of the public were injured, and I am pleased to say all of our officers are safe.", reports the Manchester Evening News.

"They unhesitatingly put themselves in harm's way, and through their brave actions, all of the individuals we believe to have been involved were quickly arrested. I would also like to extend my thanks to a member of the public that sought to assist one officer in detaining a suspect at Wigan Bus Station. If they are reading this I would urge them to make contact so I could thank them in person for their actions."

"Additional officers remain in the area to provide reassurance to the public. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to speak to them; they are there to help you."

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