Police make third arrest after 'targeted suspected shooting' near Stretford Mall

A Trafford neighbourhood has been left reeling in shock this evening after their streets were turned into a crime scene in a 'targeted attack' thought to be a shooting.

Armed police flooded Edge Lane in Stretford at around 4:40pm on Tuesday (March 26) following reports of a suspected shooting at a vehicle. Residents watched on as specialist officers blocked off their street, combing it for evidence, while police were also seen surrounding Stretford Mall.

Three teenagers - two aged 19 and one aged 17 - have been arrested on suspicion of affray, possession of drugs and possession of a bladed article and remain in police custody for questioning. Greater Manchester Police say enquiries are ongoing, but there is not believed to be any threat to the wider community.

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Asif Shah, 55, who lives on Edge Lane said it was a 'shock' to see armed police on his road and hear the news of a suspected shooting. “I saw the police had barricaded all the road. But they wouldn’t tell us anything," he told the Manchester Evening News.

“They were walking up and down the roads shining their torches, they were definitely looking for something. But it makes sense now.

“It’s a big shock to hear what’s happened. It’s quite lucky really as well, we went to do some shopping and went by car. But we were going to go by foot to one near the mall and would have been walking past on that side of the road at exactly that time.

“It’s shocking. I’ve never encountered anything like this before. A stabbing yes but not that close to us, and definitely not a shooting. So it is worrying.”

Ahsan Patel, 35, who also lives on Edge Lane said: “it was about 20 past 5 I saw