Third house targeted in 24-hour Greater Manchester shooting spree

Police are investigating to see if there is a link between three separate shootings which occurred in just over a 24-hour period in north Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police were called at about 10:20pm on 25 June following reports of gunshots being fired at an address in Kilmaine Avenue, Blackley.

Officers found gunshot damage to the front door and window of the house. People were inside the house at the time of the shooting, but no one was injured.

The incident occurred a day after two shootings.

Shortly before 7:15pm on 24 June, officers were called to an address in Colindale Avenue, also in Blackley, following reports of a gun being fired.

Witnesses described seeing one man wearing a white hooded top with white shorts and a second suspect, who was carrying the firearm, wearing a black hooded top with black shorts, firing at the address before leaving the scene.

Just over four hours later, officers were called to the scene of another shooting in Moston Lane East, Chadderton. On arrival, officers again found damage to the front door consistent with a firearm discharge.

No one was injured in either of these two shootings in what police believe were "targeted" attacks. A GMP spokesperson said while there is currently no direct link between the three shootings, they are "not ruling anything out".

Superintendent Marcus Noden said: "Understandably these two incidents have caused a lot of concern in both communities but I want to try and reassure people that we believe these properties were specifically targeted and there is no immediate threat to the wider public.

"There are a number of lines of enquiry that we are currently following and although we have not established a clear link between the two, given the timing and the geographical location of the incidents, we are exploring all avenues of possibility.

Police have stepped up their patrols in the area while investigations continue.