Manchester shooting: Double murder inquiry after two die in gun attack at illegal rave

A double murder investigation is under way after two people died following a shooting at an illegal rave in Manchester.

Both victims had arrived at hospital with gunshot wounds at about 1am on Sunday in the wake of the attack in the Moss Side area of the city.

Despite the efforts of medical staff, the 36-year-old man was pronounced dead shortly afterwards and a 21-year-old man died later on Sunday.

Their next of kin have been informed.

No arrests have yet been made and a police cordon is in place around a car park where the lockdown party attended by “hundreds of people” was held.

A forensic tent partially covered a Skoda car, while litter strewn across the ground included bottles of alcohol and canisters of laughing gas, also known as “hippy crack”.

Footage on social media showed a crowd of revellers tightly packed into the car park in darkness and dancing to loud music.

In a statement, Detective Inspector Andrew Butterworth said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with the victims’ loved ones, who are understandably devastated. Specialist officers are doing everything they can to support them at this time.

“A thorough and fast-paced investigation is already well underway 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 enquiries and reviewing CCTV.”

He added: “We are aware that, a number of hours before this incident, there was a community event in Moss Side.

“This event was attended by Greater Manchester Police along with local people and partner agencies – it was not an illegal rave and it had concluded prior to this incident.

“It does appear that the incident took place at what we believe was an unplanned event near to the location of the earlier community event.

“The local community will be devastated to learn about this tragic loss of life, we are working hard to try and reassure the community, talking to people and trying to offer some reassurance.”

Prior to the shooting, one resident told the Manchester Evening News that the scene was like a carnival because it was so busy.

Another neighbour recalled hearing gun shots at about 12.30am and ran to her window, which overlooks the car park.

She told the paper: “I was watching telly and heard it. When you live round here you know what it is.

“I ran to the window and there were people running and screaming everywhere.”

Earlier this week, the force pledged to take “serious action” to deter more illegal raves after two gatherings in Trafford and Oldham last weekend.

A dedicated operation was set up 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.

Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey said the key to controlling illegal raves was stopping them before they started, but acknowledged there could be occasions in which senior officers decide it is too dangerous to close down an event due to its size and other factors, including it being dark.

In a separate incident in South Wales, four men and a woman were arrested after four police officers were attacked as they sought to stop a large house party in Cardiff.

The five have since been released under investigation.

(c) Sky News 2020: Manchester shooting: Double murder inquiry after two die in gun attack at illegal rave