"Serious disorder" broke out in Salford this afternoon after a group of "up to 60 masked youths" descended on a road in the city.
A 16-year-old girl has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker, and four further arrests have been made.
The girl was bailed to appear at court on a future date.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of theft and public order, before a man in his 30s was detained on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and possession of Class A drugs.
Two men aged 18 and 19 have been arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article.
Riot police attended the scene and a dispersal order was put in place until 2pm on Thursday.
A witness told the Manchester Evening News that between 50-60 teenagers and young people were "hanging round" near Lower Broughton Road.
Bricks and stones were left strewn across the road in "pretty intense" scenes, they said.
"There is a Fiat 500 which has been completely smashed in. It's windows have been stoved in.
Smoke was seen billowing into the sky in Salford as fires ripped through cars
SNAPCHAT
"The police are here, but they're circling around at the moment. At a rough guess I'd say there are about 50-60 people hanging about, but a lot of residents are also coming out."
Further footage from the "disorder" this afternoon showed people circling the area on dirt bikes and crowds of riot police in place.
And as well as the Fiat 500, one video clip appears to show another car engulfed in a blaze on a grass verge, while local reports indicate a third car was set alight.
A Greater Manchester Police statement reads: "Officers are currently dealing with serious disorder on Lower Broughton Road in Salford and there is a dispersal order in place.
MORE PUBLIC UNREST:
One person has been arrested and a police car has been damaged in the chaos on Lower Broughton Road, Salford
GB NEWS
"Behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated and we will respond accordingly."
The force later added: "We have made an arrest on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and one of our vehicles has been damaged."
In an update shortly after 6pm, GMP's superintendent Marcus Noden said: "This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and we took robust and appropriate action.
"In response to this disorder we have dispatched a large number of officers to the scene, and we now have a dispersal order in place until 2pm tomorrow afternoon.
"A large number of officers will be remaining in the area over night as a precaution.
Wheelie bins were seen 'barricading' streets and a car was torched in the broad daylight chaos
"We are aware of speculation online that this incident is linked to immigration, this is categorically incorrect.
"There are currently no ongoing incidents in the area, however, tensions remain heightened, and we have robust plans in place, should we need to respond to any further incidents.
"I would also like to thank members of the public for their patience and support while we continue to deal with this incident."
Shortly before 4pm, a witness at the scene said the unrest appeared to be calming down, with the large group of youths who had gathered on an embankment having largely left the area.
Less than an hour later, more videos began emerging from Salford showing police vehicles on the scene removing cars and tending to the Fiat 500.
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