Double shootings 'may be linked'

Mohammed Iqbal died in hospital

Police investigating a fatal shooting in Manchester a year ago have said it may be connected to another shooting later that day.

Mohammed Arif Iqbal died when the car he was sitting in, along with three other men, was attacked by at least one gunman in Cheetham Hill on 31 December.

Police believe the shooting on Huxley Avenue could be linked to one in Urmston 40 minutes later.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in October.

Single gunshot

The men have been bailed pending further inquiries until 30 January 2009.

Mr Iqbal suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead a short time later. A post-mortem examination concluded that he died from a single gunshot wound.

His 28-year-old cousin, Amjad Yaseen, suffered a gunshot wound to the back. Surgeons have been unable to remove the bullet from his spine and he is now paralysed from the waist down, police said.

I believe it is significant that these two incidents are connected and would appeal for community help from both areas Det Supt Geoff Wessell, Greater Manchester Police

The gunman is described as either mixed race or Asian, between 5ft 7in (1.70m) and 5ft 9in (1.75) tall. Greater Manchester Police believe he escaped in a vehicle.

Officers are linking this murder to a shooting in Trafford approximately 40 minutes later.

At 1820 GMT police were called to Washbrook Drive in Urmston following reports that a man had been shot.

The 42-year-old man was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to his back. He was later discharged from hospital.

'Cold blood'

Officers believe a saloon-type car, possibly an Audi or a BMW, was involved in Mr Iqbal's shooting and the same vehicle was used in the later incident in Urmston.

The weapon used in the murder has been forensically linked to the Urmston shooting.

Det Supt Geoff Wessell said: "Not only was he gunned down in cold blood, but the murderer has not yet been caught.

"However, I believe it is significant that these two incidents are connected and would appeal for community help from both areas.

"We know that a year can seem like a long time but, believe me, to Arif's family, this tragedy only seems like yesterday.