Man found dead in house as bomb squad scrambled and 'replica guns' found

16 February 2024 , 13:48

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Police rushed to the street on Thursday afternoon (Image: MEN Media)

A man has been found dead in a house in Rochdale where bomb disposal experts were deployed after 'replica guns' were discovered.

Emergency services were initially called to Ashfield Road following reports of concern for a person's welfare at around 1pm on February 15. The man is said to have been discovered lifeless at the property by a family member. Greater Manchester Police arrived to the incident and came across a number of weapons inside the property - which sparked an evacuation of several homes.

The weapons are believed to have been from World War Two. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit rushed to the scene and evacuated the homes "as a precaution". According to eyewitnesses, firefighters were also at the scene. The police have since confirmed that the items were replica guns. No further details on the man have been released at this time. Frightened locals described their shock and said "chaos" erupted on their street. One woman recalled: "They said to me: ’Go for your own safety’. It was chaos."

There was a large police presence at the scene (MEN Media)

Another neighbour who had left home to pick up her sister returned to find her house had been surrounded by police with her parents still inside - and unable to leave due to the cordon, reports Manchester Evening News. She said: “It was scary and a shock." Her sister added: “We couldn’t get anywhere and no one was telling us anything. We were just stranded.” A fourth resident said she discovered the news when her son called her at work. She was told the street was being evacuated and the 'bomb squad' was there.

The woman left work immediately, fearing for her 15-year-old granddaughter, who was inside the house. She added: “I was scared. When my son rang me, she would have just come back from school. I dropped everything and rushed home. I rang her and told her to ‘just get out the house’. My worry was to get her out.”

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A cordon was put in place on Ashfield Road (MEN Media)

The evacuation took place at around 4pm, but locals said officers first arrived on the scene earlier in the afternoon. In an initial statement, a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson said: "Responding to a concern for welfare at a property, officers discovered a large amount of suspicious items inside." The spokesperson added homes were evacuated 'as a precaution', and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was 'tasked to attend the scene and inspect the property'.

In a further statement at around 6:30pm, a GMP spokesperson added: "A cordon around the Ashfield Road area of Rochdale has now been lifted. Thank you to residents for their co-operation while the emergency services carried out their duties. Police enquiries into this incident are ongoing."

Monica Charsley