Heywood controlled explosion - five released under investigation

Immediate surrounding properties were evacuated as a precaution

Five people arrested after a suspicious device was found in Heywood have been released under investigation.

Shortly before 9.20pm on Thursday, January 3, 2019, officers carrying out a property search alerted specialist officers after they discovered a potentially explosive device inside a house on Bury Old Road.

The property was being searched as part of an ongoing investigation into the theft of a motorbike.

Bomb disposal officers attended and safely carried out a controlled explosion on a field nearby.

Immediate surrounding properties were evacuated as a precaution before residents were able to return to their homes and the cordon was lifted.

Two men – aged 17 and 25 – and three women – aged 17, 24 and 41 - were arrested on suspicion of Explosives Act offences.

All five have now been released under investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Reid, of GMP’s Rochdale division, said: “I would like to reiterate that – while the device is believed to have been viable – this investigation will continue to be led by Rochdale CID, and is not being treated as terrorism-related.

“We do not believe there to be any wider threat and our enquiries remain ongoing.

“Anyone with any information on the incident is encouraged to contact police.”

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8437 or 101 quoting incident number 1690 of 03/01/2018, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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