Armed police swoop in murder inquiry

Photo: ANTHONY MILLER

Forensics officers in the lane yesterday.

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ARMED police with riot shields cordoned off a Chadderton street on Saturday, in connection with the murder of a shopworker in Salford.

Thirty armed officers flooded into Drury Lane at 9.30pm, blocking off a section of the road near its junction with Turf Lane and residents were ordered to stay at home, behind locked doors.

Neighbours said they saw two women being led away in handcuffs.

Forensic officers arrived on Sunday and were still at the scene yesterday.

The activity was in connection with the shooting of shopworker Nasar Hussain, at Brookhouse Wines, Winton, Eccles, at 9pm on Saturday.

The 30-year-old, known locally as Nasar Shazad, was shot up to six times at point blank range.

The Pakistani national, who had lived in Salford for six months, died from chest and stomach wounds.

The Oldham Chronicle understands that the hitman may have been targeting someone else and that Mr Hussain was killed in error.

The getaway car, a blue Mazda, registration number M239 NUK, was found burned out in Wigan.

Nine men and two women, from addresses across Greater Manchester, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

They remain in police custody for questioning.

John Lloyd (42), from Birchenlea Street, Chadderton, said: “It started with 12 officers but grew to about 30 with riot shields and big guns.

“Everyone came out on to the green by my house. Then something startled the officers who quickly got back behind the cars. They got everyone to go back in.”

Neighbour Chris Moran (46) said: “We heard someone shouting ‘armed police’. We came to the front door but were told to go back in and lock the door because it was dangerous.

“I saw two girls, in their 20s or 30s, taken away in handcuffs.”

A GMP spokesman said nothing had been recovered from Drury Lane and no one had been arrested.

Det Supt Rebekah Sutcliffe, from GMP’s major incident team, said: “Although we have 11 people in custody we would still be interested in speaking to anyone who can tell us more about this brutal attack on an innocent shop worker.

“This man was just going about his daily work when he was gunned down.”

Greater Manchester Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency have made a joint referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission concerning information sharing prior to the shooting.

Anyone with information about the shooting, or the Mazda, should call police on 0161 856 5448 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.