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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Turf war over drugs 'causing Salford shootings' | Turf war over drugs 'causing Salford shootings' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Salford is being flooded with crack cocaine and heroin following the murder of so-called "Mr Big", Paul Massey, underworld sources have told the BBC. | Salford is being flooded with crack cocaine and heroin following the murder of so-called "Mr Big", Paul Massey, underworld sources have told the BBC. |
| The shooting of a seven-year-old boy and his mother is the latest being linked to a violent turf war over drugs involving some of Massey's associates. | The shooting of a seven-year-old boy and his mother is the latest being linked to a violent turf war over drugs involving some of Massey's associates. |
| Christian Hickey and his mother Jayne were shot at their home on Monday. | Christian Hickey and his mother Jayne were shot at their home on Monday. |
| Police sources say drugs, money laundering and respect issues are behind the recent rise in violence. | Police sources say drugs, money laundering and respect issues are behind the recent rise in violence. |
| They believe the gun used to shoot Christian and his mother has been used in eight shootings in the North West - at least one of which is linked to the current feud. | They believe the gun used to shoot Christian and his mother has been used in eight shootings in the North West - at least one of which is linked to the current feud. |
| 'Battle for control' | 'Battle for control' |
| The BBC has been told that following the shooting of Massey in July this year, there is "more crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of Salford than ever". | The BBC has been told that following the shooting of Massey in July this year, there is "more crack cocaine and heroin on the streets of Salford than ever". |
| "Some of Massey's firm are peddling heroin and he would never have stood for it," the source said. "It looks like there is a battle for control of his firm." | "Some of Massey's firm are peddling heroin and he would never have stood for it," the source said. "It looks like there is a battle for control of his firm." |
| Another source told the BBC: "Most of the so-called gangsters in Salford are just young lads and guns are so available. | Another source told the BBC: "Most of the so-called gangsters in Salford are just young lads and guns are so available. |
| "The lads have no pity or conscience, the streets are flooded with cocaine and it is only going to get worse. The police have lost control." | "The lads have no pity or conscience, the streets are flooded with cocaine and it is only going to get worse. The police have lost control." |
| The source said the shootings were part of a "drugs war" in the area. | The source said the shootings were part of a "drugs war" in the area. |
| Massey, 55, a well-known figure in Greater Manchester, was shot dead outside his home and his killer is still at large. | Massey, 55, a well-known figure in Greater Manchester, was shot dead outside his home and his killer is still at large. |
| Labelled "Mr Big", Massey was jailed in 1999 for 14 years over a stabbing and unsuccessfully stood to be Salford mayor in 2012. | Labelled "Mr Big", Massey was jailed in 1999 for 14 years over a stabbing and unsuccessfully stood to be Salford mayor in 2012. |
| Asked if crack cocaine and heroin are flooding the streets of Greater Manchester, a police source told the BBC: "There is a big problem with serious and organised crime and this (drugs) is included." | Asked if crack cocaine and heroin are flooding the streets of Greater Manchester, a police source told the BBC: "There is a big problem with serious and organised crime and this (drugs) is included." |
| The source added it was also about "respect" and the recent shootings were about the "turf war and money laundering and not just drugs". | The source added it was also about "respect" and the recent shootings were about the "turf war and money laundering and not just drugs". |
| Wall of silence | Wall of silence |
| On Thursday, police released images of Christian in his hospital bed. | On Thursday, police released images of Christian in his hospital bed. |
| Bullet casings have been removed from his leg and are being forensically examined. | Bullet casings have been removed from his leg and are being forensically examined. |
| Talking about the shooting, his 29-year-old mother said: "I saw blood pouring from him, I screamed for his Dad. I knew he had been shot and I couldn't help him." | Talking about the shooting, his 29-year-old mother said: "I saw blood pouring from him, I screamed for his Dad. I knew he had been shot and I couldn't help him." |
| Officers made a direct appeal on Thursday to the "mothers, grandmothers, aunties and sisters of Salford to search their conscience" following the shooting, after being confronted with a wall of silence. | Officers made a direct appeal on Thursday to the "mothers, grandmothers, aunties and sisters of Salford to search their conscience" following the shooting, after being confronted with a wall of silence. |
| Detectives have issued descriptions of the two men thought to be responsible for the attack on the Hickeys. | Detectives have issued descriptions of the two men thought to be responsible for the attack on the Hickeys. |
| The first is aged about 19 or 20 years old, of "chunky" build and with a local accent. The second man is only described as white. | The first is aged about 19 or 20 years old, of "chunky" build and with a local accent. The second man is only described as white. |
| Both men are believed to have been wearing baseball caps. | Both men are believed to have been wearing baseball caps. |
| Speaking on Thursday, Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe said the shooting would be "etched on Christian's memory forever". | Speaking on Thursday, Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe said the shooting would be "etched on Christian's memory forever". |
| Recent gang-related violence in Manchester | |
| Saturday 10 October | |
| 1. 00:15: A man is wounded in the back after being shot through the window of his house in Mossbrook Drive, Little Hulton, Salford. | |
| 2. 22:00: Police are called to a house in Worsley Road, Bolton, after shots are fired by a gunman on a motorcycle, according to witnesses. No-one is hurt. | |
| 3. 23:30: Ninety minutes later shots are fired through the ground-floor window of a house on Gorse Drive, Little Hulton, Salford. No-one is hurt. | |
| Monday 12 October | |
| 4. 21:30: Jayne Hickey and her son Christian, 7, are shot and injured on the doorstep of their house on Gillingham Road, Eccles, Salford. |