Machine gun police raid city centre flats after ‘blowing open the door’

ARMED police brandishing machine guns raided a block of flats in the city centre carrying out a controlled explosion as part of the investigation into the Manchester Arena bombing.

Residents at the block on Granby Row near Sackville Street say they heard a fire alarm go off inside the building and were greeted by soldiers carrying ‘machine guns.’

Many reported hearing a loud ‘bang’ and some were told the leave their homes due to an ‘operation.’

It is believed part of the nearby railway line into Piccadilly Station was closed while the high-profile raid was carried out.

One of the residents, Louise Bolotin, was horrified to see men in army uniform carrying large guns right outside her front door.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she said: “At about 12.30pm the fire alarm went off and thought it was a fire because we had one here about a week ago in one of the flats. “So I grabbed my phone and jacket and ran outside. When I got to the front door I was met by an armed police officer, probably from the tactical aid unit. Machine gun, helmet, mask over the nose. “I thought I was going to be seeing the fire brigade and I was really in shock and I asked what was going on, and he said ‘Operations. Out!’ You don’t expect it, I’m still a bit shaken from it. It’s pretty frightening actually.” Another resident, Adam Prince, said he saw what looked like the door blown off of one of the flats on his floor. Speaking outside the building, he said: “The police are still up there.