Armed police were deployed to Mandley Park in Salford on Friday after reports of a man wearing a 'vest' sparked a major incident. Officers arrived at the scene at around midday, with a police helicopter also dispatched, following concerns over a suspicious individual.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing armed officers flooding into the park, pointing guns at a man believed to be wearing a black vest. However, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) later confirmed it was a false alarm, as the man was actually wearing a weighted gym vest and carrying a skipping rope while exercising at an outdoor gym.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects Jewish communities, initially issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming they were in contact with police. Following the resolution, CST thanked GMP for their swift response, noting that there was no wider risk to the public.
A GMP spokesperson said: 'We received a report of a suspicious male on Bristol Street, Salford, at around 11:52am today. Officers attended and quickly established that the individual was wearing a weighted gym vest and carrying a skipping rope while exercising at an outdoor gym. This was a false alarm and there is no threat to the wider community.'
