Police have had to shut down a Boxing Day rave after a huge gathering in the city centre.
A man was arrested and two teenagers were handed a £1,000 fine following the incident.
Officers were called at around 4.20am this morning after getting reports of loud music at an address in Shudehill.
When they got there, they discovered around 100 people attending a rave at empty flats in Hanover Street.
They dispersed the crowd and seized musical equipment.
Two teenage boys – aged 17 and 18 – were each issued £1,000 fixed penalty notices
A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of racially-aggravated public order and remains in custody for questioning. He has also been issued with a £200 fine.
Police say those at the rave were not just from Manchester, but had come from all over the North West.
Chief Inspector Colin MacDiarmid, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: “There is no denying the blatant breach of COVID legislation that took place here last night, and enquiries are ongoing to ensure the organisers of this gathering are held accountable for their unacceptable actions.
“The majority of people in Manchester have made tremendously difficult sacrifices over the Christmas period and have complied with the rules that we all have to follow; however, it is the minority of people who attend events such as this that risk undoing the hard work of everyone else.
“It is clear that the people at this gathering weren’t just people from Manchester but from across the North West, and it not only disregards the rules there to protect public health but also undermines the whole spirit of us all needing to be in this together to battle the ongoing risk of coronavirus.
“We have always, and continue to, operate by using the four Es of engaging, explaining, and encouraging the public to comply, but we will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those found to be responsible for blatant examples of flouting the rules such as this."
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