Two children are among at least 10 people injured in a shooting at a post-carnival street party in Manchester.
Police were called to reports of gunshots at 2.30am on Claremont Road in Moss Side and sent “large numbers” of armed officers to the scene.
"Nine people went to hospital, including two children, with pellet-type wounds that are not believed to be serious," a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said.
"A tenth person – a man – remains in a stable but serious condition in hospital with injuries to his legs."
Footage posted on social media showed panic and confusion as police tried to help crowds of people.
One man can be heard shouting “Move!” while another asks “Can you hear me?” and police can be seen helping people on the ground.
Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry said: “Thankfully the injuries suffered do not appear to be as serious as first believed and hopefully people will begin to leave hospital over the course of the day following treatment.
“That being said, there may be people who didn’t seek treatment last night and I would urge these people to get immediate medical attention if that is the case.
“This was a reckless act that could have had devastating consequences with families and friends losing loved ones.
“Detectives and forensics remain in the Claremont Road area carrying out extensive enquiries and this will carry on today, whilst we will also continue to speak to witnesses and victims."
No suspects have yet been arrested for the shooting, which came hours after the end of the Caribbean Carnival as several parties continued in the area.
Detective Superintendent Debbie Dooley said: “Officers are trying to establish exactly where this incident took place and who is responsible for such a dangerous attack.
“The area is being searched and examined while we are also trying to speak to as many people as possible and are reviewing CCTV to get all the facts.
“The Caribbean Carnival had been taking place earlier that day but had finished several hours prior to this incident occurring, which is why there were still a lot of people in the area.”
One local woman wrote on Twitter that the Claremont Road street party is known as a “brilliant time and great atmosphere”, adding: “Sometimes [there are] those few that spoil it, as there can be anywhere.”
The road remained cordoned off for investigation on Sunday morning, with litter including empty "laughing gas" canisters, alcohol bottles and food containers left on the ground amid a hunt for forensic evidence.
Det Supt Dooley said local residents would “understandably be concerned” and that extra officers would be patrolling the area in coming days.
The annual Caribbean Carnival had started with a parade through Moss Side involving local schools and community groups earlier in the day, and celebrations were set to continue in and around Alexandra Park on Sunday.
Security was increased ahead of the 2017 event following a spate of gang violence including the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old boy.
Youth worker Kemoy Walker said he had been on the main stage at the carnival, which finished at about 8pm, on Saturday and had been at another street party on Claremont Road until about 11.30pm.
He told the Press Association: “The party I was at was beautiful. When I left there was lovely dancing. That's Moss Side, that's the culture. I'm in shock this morning.”
Mr Walker said he believed the carnival would go ahead as planned on Sunday.
“We need to get the message across to young people to make sure they are not getting involved in negativity,” he added.
“Moss Side has come such a long way and there are great things happening in our community now. Hearing this, I just think why is this happening.”
The shooting came amid a nationwide increase in violent crime, with the number of homicides recorded by police in England and Wales up by 12 per cent, knife crime offences by 16 per cent and robbery by 30 per cent in the year to March.
The Office for National Statistics reported a 2 per cent rise in gun crime in the same period, to almost 6,500 offences, but said the increase was “far less pronounced than previously seen”.
Anyone with any information is asked to call on 0161 856 4166 quoting incident number 297 of 12 August, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
