Update: Town centre shooting – witnesses speak out

The flat on Yorkshire Street where the shooting occured

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Police have launched an urgent investigation after two men were shot in Rochdale town centre in the early hours of this morning (Friday 10 July) in what is believed to be a drugs feud.

Witnesses have spoken exclusively to Rochdale Online News after the men, one named as Abdul Mateem, were found with gunshot wounds to the leg and hand, following an incident at a flat on Yorkshire Street, at 1.00am.

Mr. Mateem is awaiting emergency surgery on a shattered bone in his leg. His condition is stable.

Blades of glass currently hang from the flat window, with a sofa wedged on the windowsill, where one witness speculated that someone may have tried to escape.

Greater Manchester Police have not yet confirmed whether the shootings are related to two others in the region, in Salford and Oldham, in the past week, but the possibility is not being ruled out.

Lindsay Webber, 23, from Smithy Bridge, was out drinking with friends when the shooting happened. She said: “I was getting a taxi home and noticed the area had been cordoned off.

“The taxi driver told me there had been a quarrel going on; it looked serious but I didn’t realise just how much.

She added: “It’s not often something like this happens round here, it’s a big shock.”

Guy Sedgwick, owner of Cartridge World, opposite the building said: “There is a bit of an atmosphere on the street this morning.

“I had a look at the broken window and there is a sofa wedged there, it looks like it was broken from the inside, as though someone tried to get out.”

Dave Upton, from Norden, was also in the town centre at the time. He said: “It’s a bit scary that there have been so many shootings recently, I saw the road taped off, but I had no idea it could be something like that.”

Yorkshire Street was re-opened at 7.40am.

Police are making urgent inquiries into the circumstances of this incident and anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 4646 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.