Armed patrols after two shootings

Raby Street, Moss Side, was cordoned off after the shooting

Armed police are patrolling some streets in Manchester after three men were shot in two separate incidents in the space of a few hours.

Two men, aged 19 and 27, were wounded when gunmen shot at their car at traffic lights in Longsight.

On Friday night, an 18-year-old man was shot in the back in Moss Side, close to the spot where Jessie James, 15, was killed last September.

Police are not linking the shootings but more officers are on the streets.

On Saturday, it emerged the Moss Side teenager was with friends near the Millennium Powerhouse Youth Club on Raby Street when the attack happened.

Two cars drove past the group and four shots were fired.

This problem is only caused by a small number of individuals who do engage in this Ch Supt Dave Keller

One of the bullets struck the boy in the back and remains lodged in his sternum, although his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The shooting happened just yards away from where Jessie was shot dead.

Despite the high profile incidents, Ch Supt Dave Keller, of Greater Manchester Police, said that gun crime was actually falling in the city.

"Whilst this does attract a lot of media attention we have extremely good relations with our local community and various agencies," said Mr Keller.

"We have increased operational patrols in terms of unarmed officers and we do have some armed officers on patrol.

"This problem is only caused by a small number of individuals who do engage in this. The actual number of them is very small, and we are actively targeting those individuals."

One shooting took place close to where Jessie James was killed

One man living near the scene of the Moss Side attack told the BBC he heard a gun go off at 2100 GMT.

"I came out and just saw everyone run into the park. Obviously it's a concern. I've got children. It's not nice, you know."

Erinma Bell, of the Carisma community group, said lots of work was being done to educate youngsters in the area.

"The only thing that we can do, and we will continue to do in groups like Carisma, is act as a moral compass and guide our young people in the right direction," said Ms Bell.

No arrests

The Longsight incident took place at about 0215 GMT at the junction of Stockport Road and Dickenson Road.

A gunman in a passing car opened fire at the Nissan Primera the men were sitting in and the 19-year-old suffered a wound to the arm while the other man suffered a gun shot wound to the back.

Both men were taken to hospital though neither of their injuries are thought to be life-threatening, police said.

Detectives believe the occupants of a silver Mercedes car seen in the area at the time may have been responsible.