Armed police were called to a quiet residential road after a horde of youths descended on a home reportedly rented out for party and a thug was seen wielding a crossbow. People screamed in terror as the weapon was brandished following chaotic scenes in Romney Street in Salford, Greater Manchester. 

Worried residents told the Manchester Evening News scores of teenagers were seen going in and out of a property on Monday night before things turned ugly. The newspaper said the house had been listed online for short-term rental. Neighbours said the property has regularly been used for parties, with one claiming gatherings were taking place "every Friday and Saturday night". It's reported complaints were made about noise coming from the property and teenagers left onto the street. A man was then seen on a bike pointing a weapon towards a crowd. Greater Manchester Police received reports suggesting it was a gun. It is now understood it was a small crossbow. No other weapons were recovered from the scene.

One local resident told the MEN: "I saw lots of kids around 7pm. I heard some noise. Then when I came out I saw a lot of them come out. I was shocked. There were plenty of young girls and boys.

"The house was open. They were going in and out. Some of them parked outside. I don't know if there was some party. There were plenty of people. There's parties [in that house] but I've never seen young kids like this.

"They were 16 to 17. They were kids. When I came out I saw a lot of them. When I woke up in the morning, I saw a lot of police. I knew there was going to be trouble. I was surprised, there were plenty of kids."

Another person, who has lived on the road for decades, said: "I heard the helicopter. You do get quite a bit of trouble in the street. Noisiness. It's bad when it's like this. We're frightened of going out. I never answer my door after 6pm."

A cordon remained in place on Romney Street and nearby Littleton Road throughout Tuesday morning. Forensic investigators combed the scene for evidence.

Greater Manchester Police said a 54-year-old man on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. A crossbow was recovered at the scene.

Six teenagers, aged 16 to 18, were arrested on suspicion of affray. A dispersal order remained in force across the Charlestown until Tuesday night, meaning people could be moved on from a designated area to prevent further violence.

Detective Superintendent Simon Moyles said: “Our frontline officer’s rapid response to a concerning report prevented what could have been a dangerous incident from occurring.

“There was a large group of youths gathering in the area, and officers intervened in fights and helped several young people return home safely. Thankfully, no one at the scene required medical treatment.

“Our investigation is moving at a pace; we have arrested seven people and taken a weapon off the streets while enquiries are ongoing.

“A police presence will remain in the area as we conduct enquiries and gather evidence. Neighbourhood officers will be patrolling around to provide reassurance to the local community.

“We understand an incident of this nature will cause alarm, and we encourage anyone with concerns to speak with a neighbourhood officer; they are there to help. You can also contact a local officer via the Your Area page on our website.

“If you have any information to support our investigation, call 101, quoting log 3631 – 14/04/2025 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”