"It's a scary situation to live in. Residents here are in danger."
A terrified woman said she feared that she, or another local resident in Oldham, could have been killed after gunshots were fired by three men in balaclavas on Belmont Street last Monday (September 19).
"I hope people realise that somebody could've been killed, whether it was a child or an elderly person, one of us could've been killed last night", she told the Manchester Evening News from the cordoned off street.
READ MORE: Dramatic pictures show street cordoned off by police after shots fired at house
Her fears were echoed by concerned residents in Harpurhey and Moston, after shootings in these north Manchester areas last Friday (September 23) and Monday night (September 26) brought the total in a week in our region to three.
But to some, the shootings sadly just felt 'normal'. "No one wants this on their doorstep, but it’s normal for us", one neighbour in Moston said.
So far, no one has been arrested in connection with any of the shootings. Police have said that 'work is already underway to identify those responsible and to bring them to justice.'
Here is everything we know about the three shootings in Oldham, Harpurhey and Moston.
Belmont Street, Oldham
Police said a man was shot at by three men in balaclavas on Belmont Street last Monday night. The victim was 'not the intended target', the force said.
No injuries were reported in the shooting, which happened at around 11.15pm. Earlier that evening, there was also an incident on nearby Radcliffe Street where threats were made with a gun.
Detectives believe this was linked to the shooting, which had an 'unknown motive'. No arrests have been made.
Two cordons were erected on both streets, with forensic officers pictured carrying out investigations. Police appealed for anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, though local residents told the M.E.N they were scared to speak out and 'risk their lives' by talking to police.
One Belmont Street resident said: "It's a bit scary. It's lucky nobody got hurt. Anybody could've got hurt, we have kids around here too."
She said she has CCTV cameras installed in her windows because she is so worried about crime in the area, and felt sure she would've caught the perpetrators on them last night. But she said she was hesitant to show the footage to anyone - saying doing so would be risking her life.
"Personally I think if people are walking around with guns, they aren't bothered about anything," she said. "It's a scary situation to live in. Residents here are in danger. And yesterday was the day of the Queen's funeral as well, they really must not care about anything.
"I hope people realise that somebody could've been killed, whether it was a child or an elderly person, one of us could've been killed last night."
Another resident said: "It's just too much, what is happening here now. I've got to go and pick up my little girl soon, and I worry for her. It's got really bad around here."
Detective Inspector Madaleine Atherton, of our Oldham CID, said: "We’re moving at pace to establish what has caused this brazen and shocking attack, and to ensure that anyone involved is found and interrogated about it. Our officers have been out speaking to people in the community and we share their sense of shock about what has happened, but we want to send a strong message that gun crime is deplorable and we will do all we can to drive out such violence in Oldham.
"We have seen the devastating consequences of guns being carried and used in our region all too recently, and while thankfully no one was injured, it does not diminish the seriousness in which we are treating this – therefore any information the public has must be shared with us."
Any information can be passed to police online via the LiveChat facility on our website or by calling 101 quoting incident 3193 of 19/09/2022. Details can be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Evanton Walk, Harpurhey
Bullets were blasted at the door of a house on Evanton Walk in Harpurhey at around 2am last Friday morning. Police said no-one was injured.
An investigation was launched and a cordon was put in place at the scene, as crime scene investigators and Tactical Aid Unit officers scoured the area. Pictures appeared to show the door of a house left smashed through with bullet marks.
No arrests have been made. Many of the residents who woke to find a police scene on their doorstep said they heard shots in the middle of the night.
“It was really loud [the gun shot],” one resident said. It was like one of those really loud fireworks, no smoke though. I jumped up in the night but didn’t see anyone.
"About two minutes later the police came. People are there late at night quite a lot so it’s not a surprise it happened there. This is not an area you expect that sort of thing to happen. But if it were to happen anywhere, it would be there."
Another resident said: "I’ve been told there were shots fired. We’re not sure what happened exactly but something has gone on with this as forensics are here. At 6am forensics teams were here when I woke up."
Others in the area told the Manchester Evening News that the incident was 'terrible' and 'frightening'. They went on to say 'it must be something bad for them to be using guns'.
"It’s a bit dangerous around here,” another resident said. "I’ve never heard of that before, but it’s normal really."
A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers were called to an address on Evanton Walk, Manchester in the early hours of Friday, September 23, 2022 to reports of a firearms discharge.
"Thankfully there were no injuries and GMP are investigating to establish the circumstances.
"Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to call GMP on 101 quoting log number 192-230922, or 999 in an emergency."
Penn Street, Moston
Gunshots were fired at a house on Penn Street in Moston this morning. Officers were scrambled to the scene at around 9.45pm last night (Monday) after shots were heard.
They found a gun had been blasted at a house in a 'targeted attack'. No injuries have been reported and no arrests have been made, police said.
An investigation is underway and a cordon remained in place throughout much of today. Police said patrols have been stepped up in the area.
Some residents said they 'want to move away' from the area due to the crime, but said that it is 'normal' for serious incidents to happen in the area. One neighbour said: "I was just watching the TV and saw the blue lights. I came out for a smoke and saw all the police. It's not a shock to see it though.
"There have been a few stabbings around here. It’s no surprise. If anyone does know anything they don’t say anything because it’s not worth the trouble. No one wants this on their doorstep, but it’s normal for us.
"We’re hopefully moving next year. This street always has police on it, they’re probably sick of the sight of it."
One man doing the school run with his son said: "I’m not sure what happened but I heard a shot last night. It’s not a good place to live. It’s horrible here. I need to find a new place to live."
Many residents were going about their business as usual, ducking under police tape along the way. "It is dangerous around here," one person said: "It makes me not want to live here."
Inspector Sam Blackwood, of GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: "Extra officers have been deployed to Moston to complete extensive enquiries to arrest those responsible and to provide reassurance to members of the community who are concerned by this news.
"Though we are in the early stages of our investigation, we have information to suggest that this firearms discharge was targeted. I would like to reassure the public that we are treating this very seriously and doing everything we can to protect residents and investigate this incident.
"Officers are following a number of lines of enquiry but I ask anyone with information to contact us or Crimestoppers. Anyone with information should contact GMP via 0161 856 3882 quoting 3269 26/09/22. Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
What Greater Manchester Police say
Detective Superintendent John Griffith, head of our Serious and Organised Crime Group, said: “We’ve seen a substantial and sustained decrease in shootings across Greater Manchester in the past few years and are on course for another reduction this year thanks to the robust disruptive work that has been carried out by dedicated detectives, officers, specialist units, and partners.
“While these kinds of incidents are happening less often, they are still happening too often and I can say with confidence to the public – and particularly those involved in these acts of violence – that work is already underway to identify those responsible and to bring them to justice.
“We have seen all too recently the devastating consequences of guns being carried and used in our region, and while fortunately none of the incidents in the last week have resulted in injury, it does not diminish the seriousness in which we are treating each one with.
“A lot of the answers to these investigations are in our communities and you’ve helped us seize over 50 viable guns thanks to your information this year, therefore I ask anyone who knows anything about these incidents to get in touch with us in confidence to help continue to make your streets safer.”
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