Salford Nursery Gun Found As Police Arrest Two Men, Manchester 2026

Key Points

• Firearm and ammunition seized from Mini Fingers Day Nursery in Irlam, Salford.
• At about 8.30pm on Wednesday, October 7, GMP conducted a search warrant based on information received.
• Two males aged 50 and 30 were arrested on Thursday under suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, cocaine, and cannabis.
• Both men were detained in custody for further questioning.
• The GMP said the firearm investigation is “entirely separate” from the closing down of the nursery.
• The nursery had been shut earlier in the week following the issuing of a prohibition notice due to a rat problem.
• Mini Fingers had relinquished its Ofsted registration on Monday, October 5.
• Parents reported feeling shocked, lack of confidence, worries regarding advanced payment, and alternative childcare arrangements.
• A police cordon still remained in place.

Manchester Police (Manchester Mirror) October 09, 2026 – Police have recovered a gun and a substantial quantity of ammunition from the former Mini Fingers Day Nursery in Irlam, Salford, and arrested two men on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis. Greater Manchester Police said the operation followed intelligence and involved its Serious Organised Crime Group, Tactical Aid Unit and Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit.

The force said officers gained entry to the business premises on Liverpool Road shortly after 8.30pm on Wednesday, October 7, before carrying out a search. During that search, they recovered a firearm and what GMP described as a “substantial quantity” of ammunition.

On Thursday, October 8, officers arrested two men one aged in his 50s and the other in his 30s on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs, specifically cocaine and cannabis. GMP said both remained in custody for questioning.

What did police find at the Salford nursery?

Officers found a firearm and ammunition inside the former nursery building. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, GMP said the search followed information received by officers and resulted in the recovery of the weapon and ammunition.

The BBC reported that the discovery was made after officers searched Mini Fingers nursery on Liverpool Road in Irlam at about 20:30 BST on Wednesday. The force said a firearm and a “substantial quantity” of ammunition were recovered.

The Mirror reported that multiple police vehicles were seen outside the premises, with officers seen carrying a weapon from the building. The newspaper said the operation involved the recovery of a gun and a “substantial” amount of ammunition.

Why were two men arrested?

The two men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and Class B drugs. GMP identified the alleged drugs as cocaine and cannabis.

As reported by ITV News Granada, the arrests followed the execution of a search warrant at the building on Wednesday evening. The broadcaster said the men remained in custody and that a scene remained in place while officers continued their enquiries.

The Liverpool Echo, citing the Manchester Evening News, published GMP’s statement saying that officers from the Serious Organised Crime Group, supported by the Tactical Aid Unit, arrested the two men after executing a warrant at the Liverpool Road premises.

Was the gun linked to the nursery closure?

Greater Manchester Police said the investigation into the firearm was “entirely unrelated” to the nursery’s closure. The BBC and the Liverpool Echo both reported that confirmation from the force.

There has been no indication from GMP that the firearm was connected to nursery staff or management. The Manchester Evening News and the Salford Messenger both reported that point.

Why had Mini Fingers Day Nursery closed?

Mini Fingers Day Nursery announced its closure on Monday, October 5, initially telling parents that the business was struggling financially. The Salford Messenger reported that Salford Council had issued a prohibition order on Friday, October 2, after a rat infestation was found beneath collapsed drains under the baby room.

In an email to parents after the inspection, the nursery manager said rats had “managed to burrow their way into the main building”. The Salford Messenger reported that the nursery surrendered its Ofsted registration on Monday, October 5.

The BBC described Mini Fingers as a nursery that had been ordered to close over “vermin”. It also reported that police said the gun investigation was unrelated to that closure.

How have parents reacted?

Parents have described shock and a loss of confidence in nursery settings. As reported by the Salford Messenger, two parents said the developments had caused a “complete breakdown of trust” in nursery provision.

Chloe Malpus, whose two-year-old son attended the nursery, told the Salford Messenger: “It does fill me with guilt… Because you’re handing your child into someone’s care believing they’ll be safe and well looked-after.” She said the situation had “completely destroyed” her trust in nursery settings.

Ms Malpus also raised concerns about the rat infestation and the discovery of the firearm. She told the newspaper that parents feared the weapon may have been on the property for some time and questioned whether it could have been accessible to children.

Another parent, who was not named, told the Salford Messenger that the closure email had initially suggested a financial issue, before further details emerged. A mother of a two-year-old said she had made an advance payment shortly before the closure and had asked several times for a refund.

Sophie, another parent, told the Salford Messenger that she had chosen Mini Fingers for her eight-month-old son and had believed it was a safe environment. She said the reports had made her question whether her son had been safe while attending.

What have police and the council said?

Detective Inspector Rich McCorry, from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group, said the seizure of any firearm was significant because it prevented the weapon from falling into the wrong hands. He said officers may have prevented a serious incident by recovering the gun.

“We will continue to target those involved in organised criminality and pursue anyone seeking to profit from the supply of illegal drugs or the possession of firearms,” Det Insp McCorry said, as reported by the Salford Messenger.

A Salford Council spokesperson said the situation would be stressful and unsettling for parents and carers. The council said its officers were working with families to help them find alternative childcare provision in the community.

What happens next in the investigation?

GMP said a scene remained in place at the former nursery while officers continued their enquiries. ITV News Granada reported that the two arrested men remained in custody for questioning.

The force has not named either man, and no charges have been reported at the time of publication. The suspects’ ages, the alleged drug offences and the recovery of the firearm and ammunition are the principal confirmed details released by police.

The Express reported that two Tactical Aid Unit vans were spotted at the scene and that the firearm and ammunition were discovered during a search of the nursery premises. It also reported the arrests on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis.

Background of the development

Mini Fingers Day Nursery operated on Liverpool Road in Irlam, Salford. The nursery announced its closure on Monday, October 5, after Salford Council issued a prohibition order on October 2 following the discovery of a rat infestation beneath collapsed drains in the baby room.

The nursery later surrendered its Ofsted registration, according to confirmation reported by the Salford Messenger. Days after the closure, GMP executed a warrant at the same Liverpool Road premises, recovered a firearm and ammunition, and arrested two men on suspicion of drug conspiracy offences.

Police have consistently stated that the firearm inquiry is unrelated to the nursery’s closure. The council has said it is supporting affected families to find alternative childcare, including transferring free nursery hours to other settings.

Prediction: How could this affect parents and local childcare?

For parents in Irlam and wider Salford, the immediate effect is likely to be continued disruption to childcare arrangements. Families who used Mini Fingers will need alternative placements, and the council has said it is helping them transfer free nursery hours to other providers.

The discovery is also likely to increase parental scrutiny of nursery safety, premises conditions and communication from providers. Parents quoted by the Salford Messenger said the events had damaged their confidence in institutional childcare, suggesting that local providers may face more questions from families about inspections, hygiene and security.

For the two arrested men, the development could lead to further police enquiries and potential criminal proceedings if the Crown Prosecution Service decides there is sufficient evidence to charge them. Until then, the allegations remain unproven, and both men remain in custody for questioning.