Several schools went into lockdown this afternoon following reports of an individual carrying a firearm in a town in the UK. The police were alerted to the situation in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, where a suspicious male was seen with a gun in the town center around 3:15 pm. As a safety precaution, multiple local schools, including Byrchall High School, Cansfield, and St Oswald’s RC Primary, implemented lockdown procedures, keeping students indoors.

Residents in the area mentioned that nearby shops were also temporarily closed during the incident. A parent of a student at one of the affected schools stated that access to the school was restricted, and students were sheltering inside due to the significant police presence.

Parents and caregivers received a notification from Byrchall High School informing them about the lockdown situation, ensuring that all students inside the school were safe and under staff supervision. The message stated that due to an ongoing incident in Ashton, the school had been advised to go into lockdown, and further updates would be provided as available, as phone lines were temporarily not operational.

According to a spokesperson from Greater Manchester Police, armed officers responded to the suspected firearms sighting on Gerard Street in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and after searching two individuals, no firearms were found.