Counter terrorism investigation after Salford arrests, Manchester 2026

Key Points

• Counter Terrorism Policing North West are conducting an investigation following the arrest of two men in the area of Kersal and Broughton Park in Salford.
• Harley Elliot, 20 years old of St Brelades Drive, Salford, and McKenzie Smyth, 19 years old of Grantham Drive, Bury, have been charged with going equipped to cause criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon.
• Two men of white British ethnicity were arrested after receiving reports of suspicious behaviour of the two in Singleton Road at 1:50 am on Sunday 6 September 2026.
• The two appeared before Manchester & Salford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 7 September and remanded in custody.
• Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Assistant Chief Constable Mark Dexter thanked the public for their cooperation and stated that nobody was injured.
• GMP has promised to continue working alongside the community leaders and Jewish community prior to an important time in their religious calendar.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 2026 — Counter terrorism officers have taken the lead in an investigation after two men were arrested in the Kersal and Broughton Park area of Salford following an early-morning call about suspicious behaviour. Harley Elliot, 20, of St Brelades Drive, Salford, and McKenzie Smyth, 19, of Grantham Drive, Bury, have been charged with going equipped to cause criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. Both men, who are white British, were arrested after police were called at 1.50am on Sunday 6 September to Singleton Road, Salford, to a report of two men acting suspiciously.

Due to the circumstances of the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North West is now leading the investigation and working closely with Greater Manchester Police to provide continued support to the local community. Both men appeared at Manchester & Salford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 7 September and were remanded in custody, with proceedings adjourned until Monday 14 September for a further hearing at the same venue.

What happened in Kersal and Broughton Park on 6 September 2026?

Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s traffic unit responded to a call at 1.50am on Sunday 6 September to Singleton Road in the Broughton Park vicinity of Salford after members of the public reported two men “acting suspiciously”, according to a GMP statement. The two individuals were arrested at the scene and subsequently interviewed by detectives. As reported by journalists at the Manchester Evening News and Salford Now, the men were later charged with going equipped to cause criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. The force said no one came to harm during the incident.

Who are Harley Elliot and McKenzie Smyth and what charges do they face?

Harley Elliot, 20, of St Brelades Drive, Salford, and McKenzie Smyth, 19, of Grantham Drive, Bury, have both been charged with going equipped to cause criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. The charges were brought following the early-morning arrest on Singleton Road and were put before Manchester & Salford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 7 September. District Judge John McGarva ordered that the defendants remain in custody until their next hearing, scheduled for Monday 14 September at the same court. At the initial appearance, the men were not required to enter pleas, according to court reporting by the Manchester Evening News.

Why are counter-terrorism detectives leading the Salford investigation?

Greater Manchester Police said that, due to the nature and circumstances of the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) is leading the inquiry. In a statement, GMP said CTPNW is “spearheading the investigation and collaborating closely with Greater Manchester Police to ensure ongoing support for the local community”. Assistant Chief Constable Mark Dexter said: “No one came to harm, but due to the nature of the incident, counter terrorism detectives are leading this investigation, and we will continue to keep local community leaders and our partner agencies updated.” The decision to involve counter-terrorism specialists does not, in itself, indicate a specific motive or ideology, and no further details have been disclosed at this time.

What did GMP Assistant Chief Constable Mark Dexter say about community reporting?

GMP Assistant Chief Constable Mark Dexter thanked residents for alerting police to their concerns. “I thank the community for doing the right thing in reporting their concerns to us so our traffic patrols could respond and arrest two men who have now been charged,” he said. Dexter added that GMP would continue to work closely with the local community, including the Jewish community, “especially as we now move into a significant time of year for their faith, with tightened policing plans formed through engagement with our communities”. He urged people to remain vigilant and to report anything that does not seem right.

What is the current status of the case and next court steps?

Both men appeared at Manchester & Salford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 7 September and were remanded in custody. The proceedings were adjourned until Monday 14 September for a further hearing at the same venue, according to court reporting by the Manchester Evening News. Counter Terrorism Policing North West continues to lead the investigation in close coordination with Greater Manchester Police, which said it would keep local community leaders and partner agencies updated as the inquiry progresses.

Background to counter-terrorism policing involvement in Greater Manchester

Counter Terrorism Policing North West is one of the UK’s regional counter-terrorism units, working with local forces such as Greater Manchester Police on investigations that meet national thresholds for terrorist-related inquiry. In recent months, GMP has publicly highlighted several counter-terrorism arrests across Greater Manchester, including a 14-year-old boy arrested in Glossop on suspicion of a terrorism offence under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, and other inquiries linked to extremist material and public-order concerns.

Home Office data published in early September 2026 showed a rise in terror-related arrests nationally, with civil liberties group Liberty responding to the figures by calling for proportionate and rights-compliant policing. Locally, GMP has emphasised community engagement, particularly with faith groups, as part of its approach to preventing harm and maintaining public confidence during sensitive periods.

Prediction: how this development may affect residents and community groups in Salford

This development is likely to heighten awareness among residents in Kersal, Broughton Park and surrounding areas about reporting suspicious activity, given GMP’s explicit thanks to the community and its call for continued vigilance. Local community leaders and faith groups, including the Jewish community referenced by GMP ahead of a significant religious period, may see increased liaison with police and more visible patrols as part of “tightened policing plans” described by Assistant Chief Constable Mark Dexter.

For local audiences, the immediate effect may be greater reassurance that concerns are acted upon quickly, alongside a short-term increase in police presence and engagement activity. Over the longer term, the outcome of the court process and any further disclosures by CTPNW could shape public understanding of the incident’s context and influence how residents perceive the balance between security measures and everyday life in the area.