Four boys arrested, the youngest aged 12, on suspicion of raping a girl in a supermarket car park

Police cordoned off a supermarket car park in Rochdale following reports that a girl has been arrested. Four boys, the youngest aged 12, have been arrested on suspicion of rape.

It follows an incident in a car park of Morrisons close to the Newbold tram stop in Rochdale on Saturday night. Today (Sunday) Greater Manchester Police taped off a section of the car park and an entry to the tram station.

Pictures from the scene showed a police forensic tent erected in the car park and and an increased police presence in the area. As police began an investigation into the incident, detectives confirmed they have arrested four boys on suspicion of rape, aged 12, 13, 14 and 14. They remained in police custody for questioning on Sunday night.

Try MEN Premium now for FREE... just click here to give it a go

Police later confirmed the alleged victim was a female child although they declined to provide an age. She is being offered support.

The incident has left people who lived near the supermarket in shock.

Lynn Davies, who lives by the cordon, told the Manchester Evening News: “I knew something had happened. The police came last night knocking on to ask if we had seen anything. “It makes my skin crawl. It’s bad enough when it’s an adult, but children?”

John Hogkinson, 80, who also lives directly next to the crime scene, said: “The police came but we didn’t hear anything. “We were shocked because it’s so quiet around here. I’ve lived here for 17 years and I’ve never heard of anything like this. It’s awful.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "At around 6pm on Saturday 10 February 2024, officers were called to reports of a rape in Newbold, Rochdale.

"Four boys aged 12, 13, 14, 14 have been arrested on suspicion of