Manchester shooting: attempted murder probe launched

Greater Manchester Police have launched an attempted murder investigation into a shooting in Moss Side which left 10 people injured yesterday morning.

At around 2.30am, armed officers responded to reports of multiple gunshots on Claremont Road, where a crowd of more than 100 people had gathered for a street party.

Two children were among those taken to hospital with “pellet-type wounds,” police said. At least seven people have so far been discharged. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

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One local resident told the Manchester Evening News that he saw bloodied people running in the street, crying and shaking. “It was like a horror movie,” he said.

Police believe a shot gun was used in the attack, but it remains unclear whether shots were fired at random or if it was targeted shooting.

Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry said the shooting was “a reckless act that could have had devastating consequences” and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

“Guns have no place on our streets and we want to assure you we are doing everything we can to find the person or people responsible,” he added.

The attack occurred after the Manchester Caribbean Carnival, with as many as 16,000 people turning up for the annual event.

Festival organiser Mike Bisson told Sky News that the shooting “an isolated incident” and said it had “nothing to do” with the carnival.

Wayne Everett, a local DJ who attended the carnival, described Moss side as “volatile” area due to drugs and gang violence.

“The atmosphere [of the carnival] was nice, but it's Moss Side isn’t it? You just don't know what can happen,” he said.

But Chief Superintendent Chaudhry said “the vast majority of people living in Moss Side are law abiding, community-spirited residents and I don’t want this incident to cast a shadow on what was a wonderful day, although I understand it will concern people.”