Search for motorbike pair over Salford shooting

2 May 2019, 05:23 | Updated: 2 May 2019, 05:26

The targeted shooting of a motorist in front of his 11-year-old son was "nothing short of disgraceful", police said as they released a photograph of the two suspects.

The 36-year-old victim was targeted as he waited in his car at traffic lights in Salford on Tuesday afternoon, with his 11-year-old son beside him.

A motorbike pillion passenger pulled out a handgun and fired one shot into the Seat Leon before the rider sped off, police said.

A CCTV image of the suspected attackers has been released by police.

The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder but managed to drive himself to hospital, where he continues to be treated.

His son received minor injuries in the shooting in Langworthy Road, at the junction with Eccles New Road, shortly before 2.40pm.

Detectives investigating the attempted murder say initial inquiries have indicated the incident is linked to another shooting in Howard Street, Salford, on February 6 when no-one was injured.

Detective Chief Inspector Amber Waywell, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "This incident could easily have gone another way and we could have been talking about a child being seriously injured or even killed after a shooting.

"For a child to witness an incident such as this is nothing short of disgraceful. This goes beyond organised crime and anybody who would be willing to open fire in front of a child needs to be found and brought to justice.

"Given the time and location the incident took place, we believe there could have been a number of witnesses, and we are particularly keen to speak with anyone who may have dash-cam footage which shows the circumstances leading up to the shooting or the immediate aftermath.

"We cannot allow a minority of individuals to perpetrate this kind of crime and we need the community's help to bring a stop to incidents such as this.

"I want to stress that any intelligence passed on to police will be treated in the strictest confidence."

Anybody with information should contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Last month three men were jailed for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent after a seven-year-old boy and his mother were shot on their own doorstep in Salford in October 2015.

They were victims of a major Salford organised crime gang known as the A-Team, which is involved in drugs, violence and extortion.

The attack was a revenge mission for the doorstep execution three months earlier of Salford "Mr Big" Paul Massey with a machine gun used by a splinter faction of the gang.