THOUSANDS CAUSE CHAOS AT ILLEGAL RAVES
WOMAN RAPED, MAN DEAD FROM ‘OVERDOSE’, THREE STABBINGS AND POLICE ATTACKED AS THOUSANDS ATTEND TWO ILLEGAL RAVES
A YOUNG woman was raped, a man died from a ‘drug overdose’, three people were stabbed and police were attacked as up to 6,000 people attended illegal raves in Greater Manchester on Saturday night.
Police and politicians have condemned the events, which were ‘clearly a breach of coronavirus legislation and guidelines and have had tragic consequences’.
Police say around 4,000 people gathered in Droylsden before spilling into Daisy Nook Country Park in Oldham, where a 20-year-old man died of a suspected drug overdose.
His family are being supported by specially trained officers.
Around 2,000 people attended an event in Carrington, Trafford.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they are investigating the rape of an 18-year-old woman in Carrington as well as three reported stabbings, one of which left an 18-year-old man with lifethreatening injuries.
Two other men, aged 25 and 26, were also injured.
A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, with the investigation ongoing.
Thugs also hurled bricks at officers and a police car was vandalised.
It’s understood the Trafford event was advertised on social media before a sudden descent of revellers on Manchester Road in Carrington.
Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston, has spoken of her ‘horror’ after police were left ‘outnumbered’ and ‘under attack’.
She told the M.E.N: “The whole thing is just utterly disgusting frankly, that people think this is an appropriate way to behave at any time but especially at the time of the Covid emergency.
“I’m very concerned about the victims of the reported stabbings and the reported serious sexual assault and I hope they are going to make a good recovery from their ordeal. I’m appalled at the attack on police officers after reports of bricks and bottles being thrown at them.”
She added: “It’s completely inappropriate for these events to be taking place at a time when the emergency services are already so stretched and utterly irresponsible for people to arrange them or attend them.”
Ms Green said the Carrington site was ‘obviously in a mess’, adding: “There’s all sorts of stuff left behind and the police are urging local people not to clean it up because it may not be safe.”
She added: “I’m concerned about the infection rate, the stretched emergency services - particularly the police.
“There was no warning of these events. With the other event at Daisy Nook they were very stretched.
“It’s putting completely unnecessary and irresponsible strain on them.
“We are just at the start of the summer, please can people think very carefully - we don’t need to see a pattern of disorder and violence across Greater Manchester putting people at risk.”
Assistant Constable Chris Sykes has condemned the raves, adding: “Coronavirus is still a threat and we will continue to engage with people to encourage them to take some personal responsibility and do the right thing.”