Bonfire Night in Greater Manchester was marred by widespread chaos, including a serious stabbing incident in Rochdale and numerous instances of youths misusing fireworks across the region. Emergency services were stretched thin, responding to a total of 216 incidents between 9am and 10pm on November 5th, with police grappling with large groups of teenagers engaging in disruptive and dangerous behaviour.

In Rochdale, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in a "horror attack" on Bernard Street and Chatsworth Street. Police, forensics, and CSI teams were called to the scene at approximately 7pm following reports of a disturbance. The victim was found with injuries consistent with a stabbing and was rushed to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. The street was taped off for investigations, but no arrests have been made, and enquiries are ongoing.

Across other parts of Greater Manchester, teenagers were seen throwing fireworks "like toys" and setting illegal fires. In Salford, specifically around Ordsall Park, groups of hooded young men launched Roman candles and rockets directly down streets, narrowly missing apartments and cars. A resident described the neighbourhood as being "under siege" for six hours by up to 20 youths, who sometimes scattered into the park to fire fireworks from the darkness directly at police units, suggesting a coordinated attack. Police responded to these reports but often found no further sign of the youths.

Similar scenes unfolded in Bolton, particularly on Halliwell Road and in Rawsthorne Park. Witnesses reported "herds of kids hurling fireworks at cars and people," with some youths lighting fireworks while still holding them and launching them at each other, and even at a police officer in a van. The chaos led to a dispersal zone being issued for parts of Bolton, with reports that youths were "using fireworks as weapons." One woman claimed a firework nearly hit her baby, and another described the scenes as "carnage" with "over 50 kids" involved.

In Hyde, doorbell camera videos also captured groups of teenagers letting off fireworks in the street, notably on Douglas Street, adding to the night's disturbances. Furthermore, a "disgraceful" fire was lit at Marple's Memorial Park, near the town's war memorial, just four days before Remembrance Sunday. Police and firefighters attended the scene, where a fire involving a bin and wooden pallets was quickly extinguished. Police Sergeant Rachel Walton condemned the incident as a "reckless act" and confirmed that extra high-visibility patrols would be deployed to identify the individuals responsible, acknowledging the deep upset caused to the community given the significance of the Cenotaph.

Community members expressed significant concern over the widespread and dangerous misuse of fireworks, with some calling for stricter regulations on their sale. The combined incidents highlighted a challenging Bonfire Night for residents and emergency services across Greater Manchester, with ongoing investigations into various acts of disorder and the serious stabbing in Rochdale.