The shooting of a teenager in Cheetham Hill is being linked to a violent feud between two crime gangs, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.
The 18-year-old suffered 'potentially life-changing' injuries in the incident on Spender Avenue last night (Monday).
Police are still piecing together the exact circumstances, but images of a black Range Rover appeared to show shots had been fired through a rear passenger window.
The incident comes after five shootings and a street fight in which machetes were brandished.
The violence has included a day-time drive-by shooting, in which two men were blasted in the leg; shots being fired in a convenience store; and car windscreens being blasted.
In the latest incident, the victim was driven to North Manchester General Hospital by men in a Toyota Yaris.
Hospital staff alerted police at about 9pm.
The teenager was shot on the same street where the gun war started on September 1, when the windscreen of a Toyota was blasted.
GMP has launched Operation Heamus to tackle the dispute.
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Children's services staff are also involved.
It is hoped staff will be able to intervene and guide teenagers involved in the violence - and those on the periphery.
Initially, four men were arrested in connection with the investigation - three on suspicion of robbery and one in connection with the September shooting in Spender Avenue.
All have been released under investigation.
Then, in November, armed police arrested three suspects on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. Drugs were also seized.
Two men - both aged 27 - were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
A 27-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and perverting the course of justice.
All three were later released under investigation.
In the most serious incident, two men were shot in the legs in a drive-by shooting in mid-afternoon on November 15.
At least five bullets were fired from a Mercedes car into a group of young men on Cheetham Hill Road.
Supt Rebecca Boyce, of GMP's City of Manchester Divsion, previously told the M.E.N: "We strongly believe that this is an ongoing dispute between two specific local crime groups.
"We are unclear as to what has caused this dispute and what is the catalyst for this recent firearms discharges.
"We would urge any member of the public who is aware of what is going on between these crime groups and has information to come forward."
Anyone with information on the latest shooting should call police on 101 quoting incident number 2867 of 06/01/2020, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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