Pictured: The illegal lockdown street party in Manchester that ended in tragedy when a 36-year-old man and 21-year-old were shot dead

  • A police investigation is underway after a 36-year-old man died after being shot
  • Another victim, aged 21, is in a life-threatening condition after the incident today
  • The incident took place in the Moss Side area of Manchester shortly before 1am
  • Greater Manchester Police confirmed an increased police presence in the area
A murder investigation is underway after two men were shot and killed at a lockdown street party of 'hundreds of people' in Manchester earlier today. 
Emergency services rushed to the scene in Moss Side at about 12.55am on Sunday, following reports of a shooting at an illegal party which has since been likened to a 'carnival'. 
Despite the efforts of medical staff, the 36-year-old man was pronounced dead shortly afterwards and a 21-year-old man, who was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds, died later on Sunday, Greater Manchester Police said.     
Following the illegal party, footage emerged on Snapchat of crowds of revellers tightly packed in the courtyard in darkness and dancing to loud music moments before the night descended into chaos.  

Revellers gather at the lockdown street party in Moss Side, Manchester on Sunday were two people were shot and killed
Revellers gather at the lockdown street party in Moss Side, Manchester on Sunday were two people were shot and killed
Party-goers are filmed dancing to music at the lockdown street parry which has been likened to a 'carnival'
Party-goers are filmed dancing to music at the lockdown street parry which has been likened to a 'carnival'
Hundreds of people are thought to have attended the unplanned gathering hosted by a DJ after an earlier nearby community event in Moss Side - monitored by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) - passed off without incident.
Senior officers opted not to break up the party as people crammed into a residential courtyard.
Superintendent Mark Dexter said: 'A decision taken last night in respect of the event that was unplanned was that it would be unachievable to safely disperse given the nature of the event and the people that were present and the numbers.
'We have to consider the risk of public disorder and confrontation with people at that time of night.'
GMP set up a dedicated operation this weekend to tackle the problem of illegal raves in the area.
A primary school teacher, who lives a couple of streets away, said he heard loud music from about 10pm and that it continued past midnight as he and his wife went to bed.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said: 'It's a really normal neighbourhood with an occasional spike in violence.
'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 an helicopter overhead.'
The resident said he did not feel a need to call 999 because the police were already there, but others did and were reportedly told that officers were unable to break the party up because it was too large. 
One resident told The Manchester Evening News: 'I walked past at about 9pm and there must have been more than a thousand people there. I thought it was carnival, it was so busy.'
Meanwhile another resident, Sinead Parkes, described  hearing the 'pop-pop' of gunshots at around 12.30am. 
She said: 'I heard a pop-pop and thought it was a car driving over a bottle or something at first. But then everyone came running into the streets outside. It was just mass panic.' 
Crowds of people gather at the car park in Moss Side
People arrive to the street party on Sunday evening
Crowds of people continue to dance at the lockdown street party which saw a 36-year-old man and a 21-year-old man shot 
Police are pictured at the scene after two men were killed after being shot in Manchester on Sunday
Police are pictured at the scene after two men were killed after being shot in Manchester on Sunday 
Today forensic teams were pictured carrying out investigations following the fatal shootings in Manchester
Today forensic teams were pictured carrying out investigations following the fatal shootings in Manchester 
Police wear protective clothing and masks as they arrive to the scene of the fatal shootings in the Manchester today
Police wear protective clothing and masks as they arrive to the scene of the fatal shootings in the Manchester today
Elsewhere another resident, Warda Hassan, 25, said: 'There were only a few at the party first and the police just let them carry on. But hundreds more people arrived later on and then it got really noisy. '     
Another neighbour said they saw a DJ in the courtyard with music equipment.
No arrests have been made in connection with the Moss Side shootings.
Today, a cordon remained in place surrounding the 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 laughing gas, also known as 'hippy crack'.  
Detective Inspector Andrew Butterworth said: 'Firstly, our thoughts are with the victims' loved ones, who are understandably devastated.
'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 inquiries and reviewing CCTV.
'We are aware that, in the hours before this incident, there was a community event in Moss Side. This event was monitored by Greater Manchester Police in conjunction with partner agencies - it was not an illegal rave and it had concluded prior to this incident. 
A member of the forensics team takes pictures of the scene
A member of staff carries out investigations following the shooting
A member of the forensics team takes pictures of the scene and carries out investigations following the shooting 
Tents are put up and there is an 'increased police presence' in the Moss Side area of the city today
Tents are put up and there is an 'increased police presence' in the Moss Side area of the city today
A tent is put up at the scene where the shooting is believed to have taken place shortly before 1am today
A tent is put up at the scene where the shooting is believed to have taken place shortly before 1am today
Police officers carry out investigations after both victims were rushed to hospital with gunshots wounds
Police officers carry out investigations after both victims were rushed to hospital with gunshots wounds
'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 or videos which may aid our investigation, to contact police straight away. 
'Finally, I would like to use this opportunity to offer the community some reassurance.
'I understand this news will cause concern but there will be an increased police presence in the area throughout today and the coming week - I would encourage anyone with any concerns at all to speak.'  
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.

1 comment:

  1. Then they all catch COVID, which is of course because of White racism.

    ReplyDelete

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