Police in south Manchester have been granted extra stop and search powers. It comes after a teenage girl was shot.
The 16-year-old girl was hit by a single bullet after a gunman opened fire at a crowd outside a party on Quinney Crescent in Moss Side at around 10.30pm on Friday evening (July 29).
She is being treated in hospital but fortunately did not receive serious injuries in the attack. No arrests have been made and GMP have launched an investigation.
READ MORE: Innocent woman stabbed during fight between men at pub
The force's Longsight and Moss Side branch issued a tweet on Saturday evening (July 30) informing members of the public that 'additional powers' to stop and search people will be in place until 6am on Sunday.
A picture of a map was also posted which shows a large area between the A57 Mancunian Way and Princess Parkway south of Alexandra Park within the catchment. Police will also have the powers to disperse people from the area.
"We've introduced additional powers to stop and search people in the areas shown in the maps until 6am tomorrow. We can also disperse anyone from the area we believe may cause harm or distress to others," they said.
"We understand the use of these powers can cause concern and can seem excessive. We use these powers when we have information people may have weapons in the area, or there is information that there could be violence.
"Our priority is to keep you safe. We’re using these powers to prevent violence involving weapons." The force added that residents in the area can expect to see more officers patrolling the streets over the weekend.
In a statement released earlier today, a spokesperson for the force said: "The victim – a 16-year-old girl – was taken to hospital in a stable condition with a wound that is believed to have been caused by a firearms discharge.
"Thankfully, her physical injuries are understood to not be serious and our officers are with her and her family as she continues to recover in hospital.
"Detectives from our Longsight CID are investigating the incident and believe that a single shot was fired by a passing vehicle at a crowd outside the address where a party was being held.
"It is not thought that the girl was the intended target but enquiries are moving at pace to establish the reason for the incident and – ultimately – the people responsible for it."
Anyone with information should contact GMP online via the LiveChat facility on their website, or by calling 0161 856 4382 quoting incident 3388 of 29/07/2022. Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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