Horrified onlookers rushed to help a victim who lay injured in the street after a serious assault on Sunday afternoon (April 2). Police and paramedics attended the scene in Failsworth at around 3pm to reports of a section 18 assault.
A large emergency services presence was pictured on Dean Street, at the junction with Hardman Lane. A cordon was also erected for a number of hours with detectives conducting investigations at the scene.
One shop owner told the Manchester Evening News that a 'large group' of people were helping an injured male who was sitting on the ground, with people running into the shop to get water and tissues.
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Another resident described the chaotic scenes as several police cars descended on the street, moments before a woman was seen 'shouting for the police'.
Greater Manchester Police have since confirmed a male, whose age was not given, was taken to hospital from the scene, with one man in custody after being arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault.
Kamal Deep, who works in a shop near to the scene, said he saw a large group of people helping a man at about 2pm. “He was sitting next to the gate and had problems breathing,” he said. “So many people came into the shop and took water and tissue papers for him.”
A nearby shop owner, who asked not to be named, said he saw ‘a big group of teenagers’ on the street around the time of the incident while a woman was ‘shouting for the police’.
Another woman said several police cars and an ambulance descended on the street following the incident. She said the are had been plagued by anti-social behaviour in recent years and that there had been ‘trouble’ in recent days.
“To tell you the truth, it’s not a shock,” she said. “An accident like this has been waiting to happen for two years at least. We’ve had fights here before. There’s just gangs of kids all the time coming off the trams.
“I don’t know what brings them here but they come in droves. I go inside and just shut my door. You can’t afford to get involved in anything for your own safety.
“It’s horrible, it makes you not want to live here anymore.”
Following the incident, a police cordon was put in place on Dean Street for a number of hours. The condition of the victim who was taken to hospital has not been confirmed.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers were called to Hardman Lane in Failsworth, Oldham at 3pm today, Sunday 2 April, to reports of a section 18 assault. Colleagues from NWAS were there and a male was taken into hospital for treatment for his injuries.
"One male has been arrested on suspicion of S18 assault and remains in custody for questioning."
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