Police hunting a lout who blasted a cyclist in the face with a fire extinguisher have arrested two boys, aged 13 and 14.
The arrests follow an incident while the cyclist was waiting at a set of traffic lights in Worsley Road in Eccles on Monday afternoon (April 10).
Dash cam footage from a passing car captured the 'brazen' attack. In the clip, which the Manchester Evening News has chosen to blur, the cyclist can be seen waiting by the lights at the junction where Worsley Road meets Liverpool Road.
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Seconds later, a teenage boy emerges holding what appears to be a fire extinguisher. The hooded teenager begins to cross the road before spraying a cloud of white powder in the cyclist's face.
The thug then runs across the road and can be seen laughing as the stunned cyclist appears to give chase.
A witness, who asked not to be named, said he saw the boy spray the fire extinguisher at a van just moments before he targeted the cyclist.
"It was quite a big cloud so I was a bit confused what it was," he said. "When I saw his face smiling, I honestly thought no way will he do it to the guy on the bike."
After hosing down the cyclist, the boy reportedly dropped the fire extinguisher on the pavement before fleeing.
The passer-by continued: "I was shocked at how brazen he was. The chap on the bike stopped just on the other side of the road and picked up the extinguisher. He just stood there covered in powder looking shocked, and angry.
"It’s actually quite scary that there are a lot of kids around at the moment who have absolutely no fear or respect. Every time something like this happens there are people who are too scared to go out in case something happens.
"It might seem funny to some people but it really is making a lot of people fearful to walk the streets even in broad daylight."
Greater Manchester Police said two boys, aged 13 and 14, have been arrested on suspicion of affray.
They remain in custody for police questioning.
The force is appealing for anyone with information or for witnesses who may have been in and around the area to get in touch. Anyone with dashcam, doorbell, or CCTV footage is asked to share this with police directly.
Superintendent Paul Coburn, of GMP's Salford district, said: "We are determined to clamp down on anti-social behaviour and I hope that these arrests reassure the community that their safety and wellbeing is our number one priority.
"If anyone has any information that they'd like to share with us, I urge them to get in touch."
Information can be shared by calling GMP on 101 citing CRI/06FF/0011129/23. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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