Society 4 min read By Callum Montgomery
Gun and ammunition found at Salford nursery as two men arrested
Police discovered a firearm and ammunition at Mini Fingers Day Nursery in Salford, which had already been shut down over a rat infestation. Two men were arrested in connection with the find.
Police have recovered a gun and ammunition from a nursery in Salford that had already been closed because of a rat infestation. Two men have been arrested in connection with the discovery, Greater Manchester Police confirmed.
Officers were called to the Mini Fingers Day Nursery in the Irlam area of Salford, where multiple police vehicles were seen outside the premises. Witnesses reported seeing officers carrying a weapon from the building. The nursery had previously been shut down after environmental health concerns relating to a rat infestation were identified.
The arrests were made after the firearm and ammunition were found at the site. Greater Manchester Police said two men were taken into custody on suspicion of firearms offences. The force has not released further details about the identities of the men or the exact circumstances of the discovery.
Parents of children who attended the nursery expressed shock at the news. Many had already been dealing with the fallout from the closure caused by the rat infestation, which had forced the facility to shut its doors. The discovery of a weapon at the same location has added to their concerns.
The nursery, located in a residential area of Salford, had been the subject of scrutiny in recent weeks following the infestation. Local authorities had been involved in the closure, and the site was understood to be undergoing remedial work when police arrived.
Greater Manchester Police have not indicated whether the firearm was linked to any wider criminal investigation. The force said enquiries are ongoing and that the two arrested men remain in custody for questioning.
The incident has raised questions about how a weapon came to be stored at a children's nursery. Local councillors and community representatives have called for a thorough investigation. One local source described the situation as deeply unsettling for families in the area.
The nursery had served the local community for several years before its closure. Its sudden shutdown over the rat infestation left parents scrambling for alternative childcare arrangements. Now, with a criminal investigation under way, those same families face further uncertainty.
Police have increased patrols in the area as a precaution. Officers have also been conducting door-to-door enquiries. A police cordon remained in place around the nursery while forensic teams examined the scene.
Greater Manchester Police urged anyone with information to come forward. They stressed that the investigation is at an early stage and that no further arrests have been made. The force added that there is no wider threat to the public.
The case has drawn attention to the intersection of public safety, childcare regulation, and local authority oversight. The nursery's closure over the rat infestation had already prompted questions about inspection regimes. The discovery of a firearm has intensified scrutiny of how the premises were being used after it was shut.
Local authority officials said they are cooperating fully with the police investigation. They declined to comment further while enquiries are ongoing. The nursery's registration status remains suspended.
For parents in Salford, the news has been difficult to process. Many are awaiting further details from police and from the local council. The community is expected to seek answers at upcoming local meetings.
Greater Manchester Police have asked anyone with information to contact them directly or to call Crimestoppers anonymously. They said all information will be treated in confidence.
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