As the sun shone down on Moss Side, neighbours woke up to police outside their doors. People had been seen leaving the Claremont Road area late on Saturday night (August 10).

Moss Side’s streets had been alive with music, dancing and colour as the Manchester Caribbean Carnival took place earlier in the day. But residents say that after the sun set on Manchester, Claremont Road had quietened down.

News of a shooting which injured two people, and the sight of detectives knocking on doors, came as a shock to residents. “It was quiet,” a Claremont Road resident told the Manchester Evening News.

“I don’t think there was a street party like normal [after Carnival]. There was no music – normally there’s music until 5am, but last night there wasn’t. There were a few people here but not as many. It was] quieter than it used to be.

“After 12am the police came and cleared the place. I thought everything was OK – then I saw blue tape around the corner.”

Greater Manchester Police say they received a report at 10.50pm that two people had received gunshot injuries in the area. Neighbours woke up to see a cordon in place at Rosebery Street, off Claremont Road.

“It went off at about 10.30pm,” one Rosebery Street resident said. “That’s when the gun went off. Then people started dispersing.”

GMP says both people injured in the shooting have been treated for injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing at this time. They remain in hospital for treatment.

Most residents who spoke to the M.E.N. had not noticed any commotion at the time the incident unfolded. “I saw a lot of police but I assumed they were managing the traffic,” one said.

Another added: “I was asleep through it all, I didn’t even know something had happened.” Neighbours spoke of late night street parties running until the early hours at Claremont Road, in previous years following Carnival.

This year was different, they said. “It was less congested than in years prior,” one resident said. “There was not as much commotion as there might have been in the past, people milling around in cars and so on, which was something that we welcomed because we have to live here.”

One woman, who lives on Claremont Road, said: “I didn’t hear nothing. They didn’t even have the music on or nothing. Normally there’s about seven speakers, big speakers, out there on the grass – this year, nothing.”

Other neighbours noticed people being ‘dispersed after 10pm’, but were unaware of any serious incidents. “I sat here at the front door, it was not as busy as it usually is [after Carnival],” one resident added. “Police were up and down everywhere, but I don’t really know what’s gone on.”

No arrests have been made so far in connection with the shootings and enquiries are ongoing. Witnesses are being urged to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Matt Walker, of GMP, said: “We are working hard to ensure a full and thorough investigation that uncovers exactly what occurred during this incident. Thankfully, the victims’ injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, but there could have been worse consequences to this act.

“While the investigation is very much in its early days, we are using all available resources to establish the full circumstances. We are committed to keeping the community safe and our response has already seen further officers deployed to the area for the reassurance of local residents. They will be more than happy to talk to you about any concerns you may have.

“I want people who live in the area to know that we will never tolerate such acts in our city, and we will be doing all we can to investigate all of its aspects. We will continue to provide a strong policing presence over the rest of the weekend and into the coming days, utilising all the appropriate resources we have.”

Anyone with information is asked to call GMP on 101 or online through LiveChat, quoting log number 3609 of August 10, 2024. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.