‘Feral gangs’ in city centre shoot-out
COPS SUSPECT TURF BATTLE IS REASON FOR SHOCK SPATE OF STREET VIOLENCE
POLICE believe groups of ‘feral youths’ from north Manchester are behind a shocking shooting incident in one of the city’s main squares.
At least four shots were fired from a red Ford Mondeo at a silver Vauxhall Astra as the cars raced through the city centre on Saturday night.
The Astra crashed into a lamppost in St Peter’s Square and the four occupants ran off while the Mondeo sped away and hasn’t been seen since.
As a police investigation into the incident continues, the M.E.N. can reveal officers believe the shooting is linked to an increasingly violent street war between two groups of young men in Newton Heath and Moston.
One senior officer has told the M.E.N. ‘feral youths’ rather than organised criminals are believed to be behind the latest incident, which is being linked to a feud between groups in north Manchester.
In January, three cars, two black VW Golfs and a silver BMW 5 Series, were involved in a similar gun battle between Culcheth Lane and Briscoe Lane in Newton Heath.
It is not known whether the Briscoe Lane shooting is linked to the St Peter’s Square incident but police fear the apparent increasing recklessness of those who carry guns in that part of the city could end in serious injury or worse.
It is understood a number of violent skirmishes between rival groups of north Manchester teens have occurred in the city centre over the past year, as well as on their home ‘turf’.
The M.E.N understands police believe the feud has been linked to robberies and stabbings.
Concerned local councillors were due to hold a meeting with senior GMP figures last night to get an update on what action is being taken against gun gangs.
Police investigating the St Peter’s Square shooting have arrested three teenagers aged 15, 17 and 19 on suspicion of driving and firearms offences. They were released on bail pending further enquiries.
On Sunday a 20-year-old man was held on suspicion of possession of a firearm, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs.
Anyone has information can call GMP on 0161 856 1146 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
A MUM who travelled more than 50 miles to go to the beach in lockdown says she ‘didn’t think there was any harm’ in it.
Laura McGhee and her children drove 56 miles to Formby beach in Merseyside from their home in Oldham to celebrate a birthday.
Police in Merseyside have now issued a fresh appeal for people not to travel to Formby after dozens more were turned away from the beauty spot over the weekend.
Despite coronavirus restrictions prohibiting people from travelling within the UK, more than 100 cars were turned away from the coastal area.
Around 20 people were issued with £200 fines for breaching the lockdown rules.
Tourists from as far away as Leeds, Manchester and Stockport decided to visit the area, which police have described as ‘quite frankly astounding.’
Speaking on Good Morning Britain
yesterday, Laura said she ‘didn’t think there was any harm’ visiting the beauty spot.
Explaining her decision to visit the area for her son’s birthday, she said: “He’s only four so I’m not doing another birthday in lockdown.”
Pointing to her kids, she added: “We’ve done it with him, we’ve done it with him, and all he wanted to do was to come to the beach and I didn’t think there was any harm.
“We drove here, we’re not around anybody, we all go to school together, we all live together.
“So this is what we’ve done.” But following the lockdown breaches, Community Policing Superintendent Graeme Robson blasted those who had made the journey.
He said: “This is totally unacceptable and shows a complete disregard for the government guidance, which is in place to protect not only ourselves but others around us. To flagrantly flout the rules in this way is not only reckless and irresponsible, but can result in a substantial fine, as we have seen today.”
The senior officer added that it was essential for people to ‘take heed’ of the advice so infection rates can continue to fall, in order to meet the criteria necessary for lockdown to be eased.
Good Morning Britain correspondent Nick Dixon told viewers that the lockdown flouting was becoming a ‘frustrating situation’ for police.
Explaining the latest plea from senior officers, he said: “If you are going out, do a bit of research and make sure that you can socially distance when you get there.
“Regardless, if it’s not your local area then don’t bother going at all because you’re going to be breaking the rules.”
Police have increased patrols ‘on a daily basis’ due to ‘so many people breaking the rules,’ with people arriving from as far as 100 miles away, he added.
The huge boost in visitor numbers came as the weather improved over the weekend, as temperatures reached double-digits.
Supt Robson added that an increased number of officers will continue to patrol the area over the coming weeks, with fines being given out to those breaking lockdown restrictions.
“Current guidance states that people must only travel for essential reasons, and you must remain local,” he said.
A TEARFUL paramedic, around two hours after the Manchester Arena bombing, pleaded with firefighters to get to the scene, telling them: “I have just taken an 18-year-old girl in the back of my ambulance who died en route to hospital, and you lot are just stood around,” the public inquiry into the atrocity was told.
And a former senior firefighter, now retired, described the delayed response by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service as ‘the lowest point of my career.’
Alan Topping, a station manager who was also a command support officer on the night, said ‘angry and frustrated’ firefighters were desperate to deploy to the Arena, but ‘decisions were being made elsewhere.’
He told the inquiry during an emotive day of evidence on Tuesday: “I felt ashamed to be a firefighter. We didn’t respond and we didn’t do our jobs to make a difference.”
The inquiry heard firefighters and officers ‘turned their backs’ on Assistant Chief Fire Officer Geoff Harris during a ‘debrief’ held in the aftermath because he ‘couldn’t provide any answers’ over the deployment decisions.
Some, the inquiry heard, ‘ripped into him.’
Mr Topping said: “People were crying. I’ve never seen firefighters cry at a debrief.
“That’s the level of emotion that was going on. I felt like we had let the people of Greater Manchester down.”
The inquiry has been told that amid erroneous reports of gunfire and an ‘active shooter’ police declared Operation
Plato, the tailored response to a marauding terrorist firearms attack, but the force failed to inform the fire service and ambulance service. They could not contact the police force duty officer, who made the declaration, and fire crews were held back as a result.
Salman Abedi detonated a bomb which killed 22 and left hundreds more injured on May 22, 2017, after an Ariana Grande concert.
Audio clips of calls between fire service personnel and the North West Fire Control were also played to the inquiry.
During Mr Topping’s evidence Paul Greaney QC, counsel for the inquiry, referenced an account given by firefighter Kyle Gray.
He was one of many waiting at Manchester Central station on Thompson Street as the events unfolded a mile away.
Firefighter Gray told of a ‘distressed female paramedic’ approaching him and others at the station. “The paramedic came over crying, pleading with us to go and help,” he said. “Her exact words were ‘what are you just doing stood around here? There are people dying. We need your help. “I have just taken an 18-year-old girl in the back of my ambulance who died en route to hospital – and you lot are just stood around’”.
Mr Topping said he arrived at the station at 12.25am on May 23 and crews finally deployed to the Arena ‘five to 10 minutes’ later.
The bomb detonated at 10.31pm, meaning the fire service arrived at the scene just over two hours later.
I felt ashamed to be a firefighter. We didn’t respond Alan Topping, former station manager