Police arrest two boys, 15 and 16, over Boxing Day brawl in Arndale shopping centre

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been arrested following a police investigation into violence in Manchester city centre, including a clash between masked gangs of youths in the Arndale shopping centre.

Video footage captured trouble erupting in the Andale on Boxing Day. The footage showed security staff trying to intervene, but chairs were continuously launched across the food court.

Today (Friday) Greater Manchester Police revealed they have linked the violence to a series of robberies in the city centre, and arrested two boys, aged 15 and 16, on suspicion of violent disorder and robbery following raids in Clayton, east Manchester this morning.

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Officers from GMP’s City Centre division made the arrests following an investigation which involved Arndale security staff and a trawl of council CCTV.

It brings the number of people arrested to four. Two others arrested at the time have been released under investigation.

The Arndale trouble has been linked by police to a number of other incidents, including a robbery in Piccadilly Gardens on January 3 when designer coats were stolen from two 15-year-old boys by a gang of other boys who threatened them.

Detectives continue to investigate these two incidents and believe they are part of a linked series of crime in the city centre, according to GMP.

The two boys arrested this morning remain in police custody for questioning. Two designer coats were seized during the raids and will be forensically examined.

Following the swoops, Chief Inspector Steve Wiggins said: "We're aware that these incidents are causing considerable concern to residents and those visiting the city centre.

"We have