A shooting in Salford in the early hours of Tuesday morning was motivated by racial hatred, police say.
Armed officers were scrambed to Amersham Street in Salford shortly after midnight on Monday to reports that a van had been shot at where travellers had pitched up without permission.
Two men riding bicycles shouted abuse at the van owner “making reference to him being of the travelling community” before firing off a volley of gunshots.
Next to the van was the victim’s caravan with his four children inside, said police.
No-one was reported injured in the shooting.
The travellers are reported to have arrived on Sunday 14 August at the cleared site off Liverpool Street, near Lark Hill Community Primary School.
Amersham Street, Salford – Google Maps
The shooting is thought to be an isolated incident and is not being linked to gang violence in Salford which has seen up to 10 reports of shots fired in recent months.
Detective Inspector Kenny Blain from GMP’s Salford Borough said: “We could have easily been dealing with a very different, more tragic situation here.
“Next to the van was a caravan with the victim and his four children inside, it doesn’t bear thinking about if one of the bullets had ricocheted in the wrong direction.
“We are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or may have some idea who is responsible for the attack.
“Guns are not welcome on our streets and we are doing all that we can to find these man so they can’t put anyone else in danger.”
Police are treating this incident as a hate crime and are calling for any witnesses to come forward.
Earlier on Monday 15 August, some time between 2pm and 4pm the two suspects were heard shouting and being verbally abusive on the same site.
Concillor John Warmisham, who represents Langworthy, said: “I am really ashamed of what has happened, we are a multi-cultural community and proud of that.
“Life is hard enough without adding hate into it and I would urge anybody who knows anything about this shocking attack to contact the police.
“We will not accept racism and hate crime in Salford.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
