Two men pulled up outside a home in a motorbike and put a hand grenade outside the front of a home in Bury last night, police have been told.
Emergency services including a bomb squad were called to Randale Drive at 9.26pm on Thursday (September 29) after the discovery of a suspicious item found by a member of the public.
Police have said that they are looking into a report that two men were spotted on Randale Drive on a motorbike.
They pulled up outside a house before placing a device in front of a property and then left, police said.
Luckily, the device did not go off and no-one was injured but police are appealing for anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.
Residents were evacuated and a cordon was put in place last night as officers worked at the scene.
Police want to reassure residents that an increase in police presence will be in the area while the investigation is ongoing.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “Last night (Thursday), police received a report from a member of the public who had found what they believed to be a hand grenade on Randale Drive, Bury.
“Police attended the scene, and a cordon was put in place as a safety precaution with a number of properties evacuated.
“Specialist disposal officers attended the scene, and the device was taken away for assessment.
The device has since been established as a hand grenade.”
Chief Superintendent Chris Hill, of GMPs Bury district, said: "I would firstly like to thank local residents for their co-operation and support while the cordon was in place last night.
"This incident will undoubtedly cause concern and worry in the local area, but I’d like to reassure residents that we will have an increased police presence in the area while our investigation progresses.
“We are following up on a number of lines of enquiry this morning (Friday) in an attempt to track down those responsible.
“It has been reported to us that at around 9.26pm last night (Thursday), two unknown males were spotted pulling up on Randale Drive on a motorbike, before placing the device in front of a property on the street and leaving.
“Thankfully the device was not detonated, and no one was injured.
“I’d like to appeal to anyone who may have any information at all, or anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage that we have not already seen, to please get in touch at your earliest opportunity.”
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed crews were sent to the incident.
A GMFRS spokesperson said, “At approximately 9.45pm on Thursday, September 29, firefighters were called to an incident involving an unexploded grenade on Randale Drive in Bury.
“Two fire engines from Bury and Whitefield fire stations quickly attended the scene.
Firefighters worked with Greater Manchester Police to enforce a cordon around the area and evacuated homes within 100m of the device.
“With the help of the specialist bomb disposal unit, the device was removed from the street and a controlled explosion was successfully carried out.
"Residents returned safely to their homes and firefighters left the scene at around 4am on Friday morning.”
Unsworth councillors Tahir Rafiq, Cllr Joan Grimshaw, Cllr Nathan Boroda, thanked emergency services.
They said: "Your Unsworth councillors would like to thank all the emergency services who have worked tirelessly in relation to a grenade found on Randale Drive.
"We would also like to extend our deepest thanks to Joanne, the amazing landlady at the Robert Peel pub, who opened their doors to residents who had been evacuated from their homes.
"In addition, your councillors will be attending a police meeting about the incident at 2pm tomorrow afternoon at the Robert Peel pub. We would like to invite all residents along to this meeting to hear from police representatives."
Anyone with information should contact us via 0161 856 8154 or gmp.police.uk quoting log number 3,303 of September 30.
Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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