A 28-year-old man has been arrested after a woman was allegedly forced at gunpoint into Heaton Mersey Park and raped on Tuesday night, Greater Manchester Police said.
Police said the incident took place at about 9:30 p.m. on September 9 in Heaton Mersey, Stockport. Officers were alerted shortly after the woman escaped and ran to safety. The suspect fled the scene but was arrested within an hour and remains in custody as inquiries continue.
Greater Manchester Police said the victim told officers she had been approached by a man who appeared to be holding what she believed could be a firearm and was then forced to walk with him to the park, where she says she was raped. Specialist officers have been assigned to support the victim, the force said.
Superintendent Dave Henthorne said stranger rape is "extremely uncommon" in Greater Manchester but promised a swift and robust response when such incidents occur. "What this victim has been through is nothing short of terrifying, and we have specialist officers in place to support her, which is our focus," he said. He added that he hoped the quick arrest would reassure the local community and that neighbourhood officers were speaking to residents to address concerns.
Police said the weapon described by the victim has been recovered and is being examined to determine whether it is viable. Detectives are conducting door-to-door enquiries and carrying out patrols in the area as the investigation continues.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 9932, quoting log 3668 of 9 September 2025. No further information about the arrested man has been released, and detectives said inquiries remain ongoing.
The force did not provide further details about the suspect's identity or any possible motive. The investigation remains active as officers seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the allegation.