'Counter-terror' barriers installed on busy city centre street for 'public safety'

New concrete blocks and a metal barrier have been installed on a busy city centre street as a counter-terrorism measure, the M.E.N. understands.

The barriers have been installed on Peter Street, where several popular music venues, restaurants, and bars are situated. Rudy’s Pizzeria, The Albert Hall gig venue, and Alert’s Schloss bar all call the road home — meaning the pavement can be thronged with party-goers at the weekend.

That, combined with the street’s proximity to the Town Hall, has prompted concerns the road could become a target of a terror attack, the Evening News understands. The council has confirmed the new structures are in place for ‘public safety’.

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"The Council routinely engages with Greater Manchester Police to ensure that proper safeguards are in place to ensure the safety of the public,” a council spokesperson said. “Pedestrian activity is regularly monitored in the city centre to understand locations which see high footfall which may, in some cases, see the implementation of measures to ensure safe movement and segregation between pedestrians and vehicles."

It’s not yet been confirmed when exactly the barriers were installed, but it is thought to be within the last week.