Rocket propelled grenade was amongst arms dump found in search of Kersal Moor

An arms cache including a rocket propelled grenade was found by police during a search in Salford. The find came after GMP received specific intelligence to check an area near Kersal Moor.

The force is now trying to establish if the stash was left by an organised crime group or paramilitaries. The Manchester Evening News understands a bag of guns and grenades was found - with one being an RPA.

There have been other ammunition and firearms finds in the bordering Kersal and Higher Broughton districts relatively recently. They were recovered as part of Operation Naseby, which as specifically targeted crime gangs in Salford.

READ MORE: Bomb squad carry out controlled explosion on 'viable' device found on moorland in Salford

On Friday morning a footpath off Heathland Road at Kersal Moor was cordoned off and a small number of residents were evacuated. Later a bomb squad was deployed and a controlled explosion carried out.

The Army were called over a 'suspicious item' found during a police search. Pictures and video footage show a Royal Logistic Corps vehicle parked up at the scene with explosive ordnance disposal officers also present. The footage shows a bomb disposal robot being manoeuvred from the back of the van.

Firearms which were recovered are being examined by forensic and ballistic experts. Before the find armed police were pictured crossing the moor as part of what GMP called "a wider operation".

In a statement on Friday GMP said: "Specialists have conducted a controlled explosion after suspicious item was found during an isolated and contained search operation in Kersal Moor. It has not yet been confirmed what the item was but explosive ordnance disposal carried out an assessment of it and deemed it to be viable.

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