18 faces violent disorder inquiry cops want to ID

DETECTIVES are still trying to identify 25 people suspected of being involved in violent disorder on the streets of Greater Manchester.

- THOMAS GEORGE

More than 120 people have been arrested after violence broke out in Manchester city centre, Bolton, Rochdale and Newton Heath in the wake of the Southport stabbings at the end of July.

Police say that more than 100 suspects have been charged while dozens have been convicted and put behind bars for their part in the unrest. Greater Manchester Police has now released images of 18 more people they still want to speak to in connection with the disorder.

A huge team of police officers have spent weeks trawling through CCTV, body-worn video, and social media footage to identify those involved in violent scenes outside Rochdale Police Station on July 25, in Newton Heath on July 31, on Mosley Street and Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre on August 3, in Bolton town centre on August 4. Following a series of public appeals, detectives have identified 148 suspects. A total of 121 people have been arrested.

However, GMP is still trying to identify 25 people as part of operations Spindle, Underbarrow, Swanmore and Milnthorpe.