Man arrested following series of 'abhorrent' attacks on Gay Village adult store Clonezone
A man has been arrested by police investigating a series of attacks on an adult store in Manchester's Gay Village. Clonezone, on Sackville Street, beside Canal Street, had its windows smashed by vandals three times in just six weeks.
The first incident occurred on March 22, prompting the venue to issue an emotional public statement writing: “Windows can be broken but the LGBTQIA+ community cannot." Its glass front door was then smashed on the evening of April 13.
The third incident occurred on the evening of April 24, shortly before 6pm, as staff were still working inside. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community Today (Wednesday, May 10) Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said a 32-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
He remains in custody for questioning with enquiries ongoing, they said. Chief Inspector Adam Wignall, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: “The attacks at this premises were abhorrent and our officers have been working hard to identify those responsible for these shocking incidents. “Our local neighbourhood team have been investigating all potential leads and we hope this arrest shows that we are determined to clamp down on this sort of criminality in our communities. “We are still asking for anyone with any information to please get in touch with us – whether it’s big or small, it could greatly assist our investigations.” Reacting to the development, Piccadilly ward councillor Jon-Connor Lyons said: "The Gay Village is resilient and we won’t let these cowardly attacks on our SME businesses and people get to us.
