Two 16-year-old boys are arrested after shots are fired in car chase ending in crash in Manchester’s city centre
- The two 16-year-old boys and a man, 19, have been arrested over the incident which happened just before 8.30pm on Saturday night, police said
- Witnesses reported seeing a car chase with occupants of one vehicle firing shots at those in the other
- The incident ended with a collision in St Peter’s Square in the city centre
- No one is believed to have been injured in the incident
- Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward
Two 16-year-old boys have been arrested over after shots were reportedly fired in Manchester’s city centre.
A 19-year-old man was also detained over the incident, which ended in a car crash in St Peter’s Square.
Greater Manchester Police said officers received a report of a suspected firearms discharge and road traffic collision just before 8.30pm on Saturday.
Emergency services attended the scene and found an abandoned vehicle on the square’s tram tracks.
No one is believed to have been injured in the incident, police said.
Witnesses described seeing a chase between two cars with those in one vehicle firing shots at the other, before one crashed into a lamp post, The Manchester Evening News reported.
Two 16-year-old boys have been arrested over after shots were fired in Manchester’s city centre. A 19-year-old man was also detained in the incident, which ended in a car crash in St Peter’s Square
Emergency services attended the scene and found an abandoned vehicle on the Square’s tram tracks. Pictured: The crime scene
No one is believed to have been injured in the incident, which Greater Manchester Police said took place just before 8.30pm on Saturday
Later on Saturday, the square was cordoned off and officers were seen searching the area with dogs and reportedly examining the entrance to a building site on one side of the square, the paper said.
Photos showed crime scene investigators examining a silver Vauxhall parked inside the cordon.
The boys and man were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and possession of a firearm. They all remain in custody.
Superintendent Helen Critchley, from GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: ‘We understand that this incident has no doubt caused concerns in the city centre and those living nearby but I’d like to reassure them that a thorough investigation is underway.
‘Officers are at the scene and a large cordon is in place whilst a number of enquiries are carried out to establish what happened during this incident.
‘Three arrests have been made and our efforts to piece together what happened continue.’
Superintendent Critchley appealed to anyone who was nearby at the time or has any information to get in touch, saying ‘any details may prove vital’.
Those with information can call 0161 856 4409 quoting log number 2989 of 27/02/2021 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.