suspected burglar has been stabbed to death while apparently trying to break into a house in Greater Manchester.
It is understood the man was attempting to get into a house in Ethel Avenue, Salford, on Wednesday night when the householder tried to defend the house.
The man, 26, is believed to have been carried away by other members of a balaclava-clad gang as they fled, before being dumped in the street.
The householder, his son and son's girlfriend have been arrested.
Two men, aged 57 and 29, and a 21-year-old woman are being questioned on suspicion of murder, Ch Supt Kevin Mulligan, of Greater Manchester Police, said.
Prime Minister David Cameron this week vowed to bring in stronger measures to protect homeowners defending their property.
'Shocking incident'
He said: "We will put beyond doubt that homeowners and small shopkeepers who use reasonable force to defend themselves or their properties will not be prosecuted.
Mr Mulligan, who heads Greater Manchester Police's Salford division, said the man suffered "at least one stab wound" when he was attacked in or nearby the house following a disturbance inside.
He said he could not comment further on the injuries, or the cause of death, until a post-mortem investigation had been carried out.
He also refused to comment on whether the weapon had been taken into the property buy the suspected intruder, or if it belonged to the householder.
Three other men were with the stabbed man at the time of the incident, Mr Mulligan said.
Police have put up a 100m cordon around the terraced house in Pendlebury, which backs on to open scrubland.
The next-door neighbour to the house, Sylvia Sharp-Cadigan, said: "I went to bed at 10 o'clock and at about 12 o'clock heard all this commotion, all voices.
"There were four police cars outside.
"I came down and said to the police, 'What's going on?'
"He said, 'There's been a break-in.'
"I said, 'Is anybody hurt?' and he said, 'that's all I can say'."
Mr Mulligan said: "I can reassure the community that we will thoroughly investigate what happened last night and do not believe that members of the public are at risk.
"I would urge anyone who knows something to speak to officers from the major incident team and anyone else who has other concerns can speak to my officers, who will be providing an increased presence to provide the community with reassurance."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...ester-13885457