Baby narrowly missed in Milnrow shooting

A gunman opened fire on a Milnrow home last night (Wednesday 12 August) and one of the bullets narrowly missed an eight-month-old baby.

A number of shots were fired at a family home on Brandon Street and one bullet hit the wall above the baby boy's cot.

Police attended the scene at around 10pm and found living room and upstairs bedroom windows smashed by the gun shots.

A young couple were in the house with their child when the gunman opened fire.

No-one was hurt in the incident.

Police officers later arrested a 23-year-old man nearby on suspicion of cultivating cannabis after discovering about 50 cannabis plants in the cellar of the house.

A team of detectives are now investigating and are appealing for anyone who may have seen a medium-sized car travelling slowly up Brandon Street at the time of the incident to contact them.

High visibility patrols are now in the area to provide reassurance to residents.

Superintendent Hughie Hardiman, based at Rochdale police station, said: "The mother and child are thankfully safe and well and were taken to a relatives house overnight.

"However, I imagine the mental scars will stay with them for some time. I understand one of the bullets was close to the child's cot.

"This just goes to show the potentially horrific consequences of the indiscriminate firing of weapons.

"I want to reassure people that this is an isolated incident."

Anyone with information should call Middleton Major Incident Team on 0161 856 8751 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.