A teenager was arrested after police officers were 'targeted with fireworks' at a vigil held to remember a 16-year-old who tragically died in a crash last weekend. The incident, on Droylsden Road, saw the teenager sustain fatal injuries after the vehicle he was in collided with a lamppost.
Police put a dispersal order in place around Droylsden after ‘officers were targeted’ following the vigil. The Manchester Evening News understands the move followed anti-social behaviour at the vigil, after police had tried to 'engage to ease tensions'. The vigil had been held for 16-year-old Ben Burbidge, who died in the car crash on Saturday evening (October 15).
A 17-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder by officers on patrol in nearby Audenshaw on Monday (October 17). The teenager has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
As well as the dispersal order, Greater Manchester Police announced that Section 60 powers had been granted, allowing officers to temporarily stop and search people within the local area, ending on Tuesday afternoon.
This remained in place around Droylsden Road, Market Street and Baguley Street following reports of gatherings and officers being targeted with the fireworks in the disturbance.
In an update on Tuesday (October 18), GMP's Tameside Division tweeted: "The neighbourhood team were on patrol in the Audenshaw area yesterday when they spotted a male who was a suspect in relation to recent disorder with fireworks involving officers. The 17-year-old was arrested for violent disorder and bailed for further enquiries."
It’s understood that police ‘tried to engage to ease tensions’ at the vigil which saw some anti-social behaviour. Following the passing of Ben, GMP said: “Greater Manchester Police were called at around 8pm on Saturday 15 October 2022 to a serious collision on Droylsden Road, Tameside as it approached North Road.
"Emergency services attended the scene and despite the best attempts of officers and paramedics a passenger of the vehicle that collided with a lamp post was sadly pronounced dead a short time later after suffering fatal injuries.
"Specialist officers have been deployed to support his family at this devastating time. GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are now appealing for anyone who may have seen the car, described as a white Vauxhall Corsa, and the collision in a busy area of Audenshaw during the evening to get in touch to help their investigation."
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 3004 of 15/10/22.
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