Officers are trying to figure out whether a number of disturbances in Oldham are linked to a teenage boy having his leg broken after being 'deliberately' knocked off his moped.
Emergency services were called to Propps Hall Drive in Failsworth at around 5.15pm on Friday July 2.
There, they found a teenage boy next to a moped with a serious leg injury, with witnesses saying the teen had suffered an open fracture to his leg, with the bone breaking through the skin near his knee.
Now, police are trying to figure out whether earlier incidents were linked to the boy's injury.
A "couple of disturbances" were reported to officers last night, with neighbours saying they saw a young man grab a weapon from a car less than an hour earlier.
A man who lives close to the crash, heard a huge commotion at around 4.15pm, and saw a group of young people having an argument.
He said: "There was a young woman and a lad and they seemed to get into a fight with two other guys, they were screaming at the top of their voice, shouting and calling each other all sorts.
"The next thing I know a silver Golf car pulled up and lad with a cap got out.
"He went around and had something in his hand, I don't know what it was, it was either a long pole or a machete, and the woman ran down towards the canal.
"The other fellow jumped in the car and raced away, I assumed he was going round to head her off."
Later that evening, at around 5.10pm, the resident was in the kitchen preparing his dinner when he heard an almighty bang from the front of his house.
By the time he went outside again, he saw police pinning an injured teenager to the floor whilst they waited for an ambulance.
Officers were on scene with the casualty for an hour and a half before an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital.
The man, who asked not to be named, added: "He was laying on the ground for about an hour and a half, it was a long time.
"The police had to put some tin foil underneath him to keep him warm.
"He was in agony".
The resident said he believes the men involved in the argument were also involved in the collision, something officers are now trying to establish.
A spokesperson for the force said: "We're aware there were a couple of disturbances in the area during the evening and we're working to establish whether those are linked are not to this incident.
"As ever, if there are people with information then we would encourage them to contact police or Crimestoppers if they haven’t so already."
The boy remains in hospital in a stable contion, with initial enquiries suggesting he was deliberately knocked off the moped by another vehicle.
A police cordon remained in place last night and a white-coloured moped could be seen lying inside the section of the road which had been taped off.
An investigation is underway and no arrests have yet been made.
Police are now urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may have information, to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to report it online, if able, at www.gmp.police.uk or by calling call 101 quoting incident 2125 of 02/07/2021. Details can be passed, anonymously, to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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