Manchester shootings: Police investigate double murder at lockdown street party

Victims aged 21 and 36 shot at ‘unplanned event’ in Moss Side, say detectives

Police at the scene in a courtyard in the Moss Side area of Manchester (PA)

Police are investigating a double murder after two men were shot at a lockdown street party in Manchester.

The victims, aged 21 and 36, were taken to hospital after reports of a shooting in Moss Side shortly before 1am on Sunday.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed on Sunday afternoon that both men died after suffering gunshot wounds.

Detectives said that the shooting took place at an “unplanned event” which followed an earlier community gathering in Moss Side.

Footage on social media shows a crowd of revellers tightly packed in the courtyard in darkness and dancing to loud music.

“Firstly, our thoughts are with the victims’ loved ones, who are understandably devastated,” said Detective Inspector Andrew Butterworth, of GMP’s Major Incident Team. “Specialist officers are doing everything they can to support them at this time.

“A thorough and fast-paced investigation is already well under way to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident and arrest those responsible. As we speak, dedicated teams of officers are carrying out house to house enquiries and reviewing CCTV.

“We are aware that, a number of hours before this incident, there was a community event in Moss Side. This event was attended by Greater Manchester Police along with local people and partner agencies – it was not an illegal rave and it had concluded prior to this incident. It does appear that the incident took place at what we believe was an unplanned event near to the location of the earlier community event.

“We know that there were a number of people in the area at the time and, if they haven’t already, I appeal directly to them or anyone else with information, photographs of videos which may aid our investigation to contact police straight away.

“The local community will be devastated to learn about this tragic loss of life, we are working hard to try and reassure the community, talking to people and trying to offer some reassurance. We know that the impact on young people in particular will be significant and will be working with Manchester City Council to help people who have been traumatised by this terrible crime.”

Police have set up a cordon around a residential courtyard between Caythorpe Street, Broadfield Road and Bowes Street.

A forensic tent partially covered a Skoda car, with litter strewn across the ground including bottles of alcohol and canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.

One witness, a primary school teacher living nearby, said he heard loud music from about 10pm and that it continued past midnight.

“It’s a really normal neighbourhood with an occasional spike in violence,” the man said. “I had a walk out to see what was happening and I would say there were hundreds of people around but I did see police patrols. Later, we heard a helicopter overhead.”

He claimed that neighbours had been told that police officers were unable to break the party up because it was too large.

Earlier this week, Greater Manchester Police vowed to take “serious action” to deter more illegal raves after two gatherings in Trafford and Oldham last weekend.

A dedicated operation was set up by the force after a 20-year-old man died of a suspected drug overdose, an 18-year-old woman was raped and three men were stabbed at the two events attended by more than 6,000 people.

No arrests have been made so far in relation to the double murder.

Additional reporting by Press Association