Teenager held after sister shot

Officers remained at the scene on Tuesday

A teenage boy is being held by police after his 12-year-old sister was shot in the head in Manchester.

Police were called to reports of the shooting at an address in Wembley Road in Gorton at about 1930 BST on Monday.

Ambulance crews also attended and the girl was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary, where she is said to remain in a "very critical" condition.

Her 17-year-old brother was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was being questioned on Tuesday.

The shooting happened at a house in a council estate in Gorton, where police were standing guard on Tuesday morning.

Neighbour Hawa Kamara, 39, described how she saw the arrested boy "cradling" his sister outside their house while screaming for help.

Ms Kamara, a mother-of-four, said: "I was sleeping in the house when I heard someone shouting, 'Call the ambulance, call the ambulance'.

"I'm a mother and was worried instantly. I ran downstairs and went outside and said, 'What's going on?' I saw the brother holding the sister on the ground, cradling her, and the two other girls were there as well.

She added: "I couldn't believe it. I have never seen a gunshot wound in my life. There was a lot of blood on the boy's coat and he was holding her and cradling her. He was shouting, 'Call an ambulance.'"

Local residents said the brother and sister lived in the house with their mother and seven-year-old twin sisters.

Forensic officers

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he did not hear any shots but described the scene on the estate.

"The first I knew was when police Land Rovers screeched up the road and armed policemen got out," he said.

"Then lots of police vans and other vehicles turned up and officers blocked the road off."

Forensic officers were also at the scene on Tuesday examining the house and the street outside.

Gorton lies about four miles (6.4km) outside the centre of Manchester to the east of the city.

Although a poorer and run-down district of the city, the area is not known for gun crime and is currently undergoing regeneration.