Six individuals have been arrested in connection to an explosion of violence in north Manchester last weekend.
Police swarmed the Irk Valley estate in Collyhurst following reports of a mass brawl and shooting on Sunday afternoon (March 12). A fight involving six males reportedly armed with machetes on Tavistock Square, in Harpurhey, on Wednesday, is also believed to have been connected in what police are calling 'gang-linked' fighting.
Three individuals remain in police custody for questioning, and three have been released under investigation. Officers also say a 'number of positive arrests' have been made for possession of offensive weapons and drugs since the weekend's events.
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Yesterday, enhanced stop and search powers were enforced following the two violent episodes reportedly linked to gangs. These remain in place until 4.15pm today (Friday March 17). The Section 60 order covers parts of Harpurhey and Collyhurst, including the Monsall and Irk Valley estates, as seen in the map below.
Police were called to The Vine pub on Glendower Drive, Collyhurst, at around 3pm on Sunday (March 12) to reports of a 'disturbance' outside a premises. A man received serious injuries from a large knife following a disturbance outside the pub, while a firearm was also discharged.
Detectives believe that in connection with this 'violent disorder', gunshots were fired towards a car at the nearby junction of Queens Road and Rochdale Road. More shots were then blasted on Parkstead Drive shortly after.
Two north Manchester pubs, including The Vine, have been barred from serving customers in the wake of the violence. Manchester City Council temporarily suspended the licences of both The Vine and The Queens Hotel, on Sedgeford Road, Harpurhey, until a full review on April 6.
GMP told the council Sunday's episode was a 'serious incident of violence' that was 'linked to organised crime groups'. A report from police added that it is 'believed that the persons involved in this serious incident are connected to the Queens Hotel'.
Following the hearing, Harpurhey councillor Pat Karney said: "There is real fear and anxiety in the area. Even on Monday, law-abiding residents couldn’t actually leave the estate to go about their everyday lives.
In an update this morning, a spokesperson for GMP said: "Six individuals have been arrested in connection to this incident. Three remain in police custody for questioning at this time. Three have been released under investigation.
"The section 60 powers remain in place to allow police to continue to support the community and offer reassurance. There has been a number of positive arrests for possession of offensive weapons and possession of drugs."
Residents are being urged to report any information about criminal activity to GMP by calling 101 or using the Live Chat function on the force's website. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
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