Chainsaw attack on Bolton street

8:20am Thursday 8th May 2008

Four people have been arrested after a group of men were threatened with a chainsaw in Bolton.

Police are treating this incident as racially motivated.

Police received a report of a girl and two men running down Haydock Street with a chainsaw just after 7.50pm.

Minutes later, a group of Asian men who were standing on Prince Street were confronted by the three people.

They shouted racist abuse at the Asian men before the girl, who was holding the chainsaw, threatened the group, shouting more abuse as she did so.

She held the chainsaw inches from one of the victim's heads before walking away laughing with her associates.

Several witnesses had reported this incident to police, and officers were able to trace the three offenders' movements using CCTV from the area.

Three men aged 23, 22 and 26, and a 17-year-old girl were arrested on suspicion of affray on Sefton Court a short time later.

They remain in police custody for questioning.