A woman in her 70s was attacked in broad daylight in Middleton, sparking a major police hunt for the suspect believed to be armed with a knife. The incident occurred at around 11:20am on Thursday, March 6, in Crow Hill South, Middleton.
The victim sustained minor injuries but was left deeply shaken by what police have described as an “unprovoked” assault.
Emergency crews responded quickly to assist the victim and secure the scene. Officers from the Rochdale district have deployed significant resources to track down the attacker.
Detective Inspector Kimberley Hines, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was a shocking and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable member of our community. We are pursuing every possible line of enquiry and are determined to identify and locate the person responsible.”
Since the attack, police have conducted door-to-door enquiries and interviewed witnesses. They are also reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage from local businesses and homes to gather more information.
Additional police reinforcements have been brought in to ensure no detail is overlooked during the investigation.
In a significant development, Greater Manchester Police released video footage of a man seen fleeing the scene shortly after the attack. Although the suspect’s face is not clearly visible, investigators hope that his clothing, build, or mannerisms will help members of the public identify him.
Authorities are urging anyone who recognises the man in the footage to come forward with information.
Police have made a public appeal, asking anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact them. They can be reached by calling 101 and quoting log number 1007 of 06/03/25, or by reporting anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Detective Inspector Hines added: “We understand incidents like this cause concern, especially in residential areas. We are doing everything to keep the community safe and bring this offender to justice.”
Extra patrols have been deployed on the streets of Middleton to reassure residents and maintain a watchful presence in the area.
Originally published by UKNIP.
