A nursery has been forced to close as police swarmed the scene overnight to recover guns from the premises, with two arrests made in connection with the incident.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Organised Crime Group, alongside a Tactical Aid Unit (TAU), arrested two men following the execution of a warrant at Mini Fingers private day nursery on Liverpool Road in Irlam, Salford.
Acting on information, officers struck the address around 8.30pm yesterday, where a search took place, leading to the recovery of a firearm and a “substantial quantity of ammunition”.
Earlier today, two men – one in their 50s and another in their 30s – have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, namely cocaine and cannabis.
Both remain in police custody for questioning, with a scene remaining in place at the nursery as officers continue their enquiries.
Detective Inspector Rich McCorry said: “This operation demonstrates our continued commitment to disrupting serious organised crime and removing dangerous weapons from our streets.
“Acting on intelligence, officers executed a warrant at a business premises in Irlam, where a firearm and a substantial quantity of ammunition were recovered.
“The seizure of any firearm is significant it prevents the weapon from falling into the wrong hands, and we have potentially prevented a serious incident occurring recovering this gun.
The Firearm recovered at a business address in Irlam, Salford
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GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE
“I would like to thank officers from our Tactical Aid Unit and Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit for their support during this operation.
“We will continue to target those involved in organised criminality and pursue anyone seeking to profit from the supply of illegal drugs or the possession of firearms.”
The Mini Fingers nursery is believed to have closed for good earlier this week, with the nursery manager writing to parents to say the staff team were “devastated” by the closure.
According to Manchester Evening News, the email said: “It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that as of today, the owner of the nursery has decided to close the business. We, as a staff team, are devastated and have no words following this decision.”
Police were reportedly on the scene from around 8pm yesterday evening, with several police vehicles and two Tactical Aid Unit vans pictured stationed outside the premises.
An “animals in transit” ambulance also arrived at the site, with what appeared to be sniffer dogs inside. CSI were also seen carrying evidence bags in and out of the property.
Officers adorned the windows of the building with a white sheet to block public view inside as investigations continue.
Police confirmed the nursery was ordered to shut down earlier this week after the discovery of a rat infestation.
Mini Fingers nursery was issued with a prohibition order by Salford Council’s environmental health department on October 2, after inspectors discovered vermin in the building.
Parents were told the nursery would be closing down for good on Monday in an email claiming that “due to the recent events and the business struggling”, the owner “does not see a way forward without the business being extremely out of pocket”.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the probe into the gun was “entirely unrelated”.