A 54-year-old man has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and other offences following a large disturbance involving around 60 teenagers in Salford. Armed police responded after a crossbow was brandished during the incident.
A man has been formally charged following an incident involving a crossbow during a large-scale disturbance in Salford on Monday evening, April 14.
Police were called to a property on Romney Road after reports emerged of a considerable altercation linked to a gathering. Witnesses described a party involving approximately 60 teenagers at the house, which subsequently escalated and spilled onto the surrounding street. It was during this disturbance that a person was observed brandishing a crossbow, prompting armed police to respond.
Following the intervention, Roy Leader, aged 54, from Littleton Road, Salford, was arrested and charged with multiple offences. These include possession of an offensive weapon, affray, and racially aggravated offences under the Public Order Act. The charges relate specifically to events that unfolded on the evening of April 14. Leader has since been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
In addition to Leader’s arrest, six teenagers, aged between 16 and 18, were also detained on suspicion of affray during the same incident.
Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the disturbance. Detectives are working closely with Salford Council to gain a better understanding of the use of the property where the incident occurred.
In a statement, the force said: “These charges relate to an incident on the evening of Monday, April 14 to a large-scale disturbance on Romney Street in Salford. An investigation is ongoing into the circumstances, with our detectives working with Salford Council to understand the use of the property.”
The incident remains under investigation as authorities continue to piece together the events leading to the disturbance and the possession of the crossbow. Residents in the area experienced significant police activity during the response to the event.
The Manchester Evening News is reporting on the development and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2025-04-15/seven-people-arrested-and-crossbow-recovered-after-disturbance-in-salford – This article corroborates the disturbance in Salford where a crossbow was involved and several arrests were made, including a 54-year-old man and six teenagers. It also provides details about the police response and the dispersal order issued for the area.
- https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater-manchester/news/news/2025/april/man-charged-following-incident-involving-crossbow-in-salford – This police report confirms that a man named Roy Leader has been charged following an incident involving a crossbow in Salford. The charges include possession of an offensive weapon and racially aggravated offences.
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/salford-greater-manchester-police-crimestoppers-b2733324.html – The article details the arrests of seven individuals, including a man suspected of possessing an offensive weapon and six teenagers suspected of affray, after a disturbance in Salford where a crossbow was recovered.
- None available – There is no specific URL available to corroborate the exact details about the gathering of 60 teenagers and the subsequent altercation without mixing it with other incidents.
- None available – No specific URL directly supports the claim about Roy Leader being remanded in custody and scheduled to appear in court on April 16, 2025, although his charges are documented.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is highly current, referencing an event that occurred on April 14, 2025. There are no indications that the content is recycled or old.
Quotes check
Score:
5
Notes:
There are no direct quotes from individuals that I could verify against earlier online sources. However, there is a statement from Greater Manchester Police, which might not be widely available outside official sources.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Manchester Evening News, a reputable local news outlet known for reliable coverage.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The event described involves a plausible scenario of a disturbance and police response, consistent with real-world incidents. The specifics, such as charges and ongoing investigations, also suggest a genuine news event.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be a recent, genuine news event based on its freshness, plausible context, and origin from a credible local news source. Lacking direct quotes for verification does not diminish the overall reliability.
