Police issue update after man shot outside town centre bar

Detectives have issued an update after a man was shot outside a bar in Bury. Officers were called out to a firearms discharge outside Stanley's bar, on Silver Street, at 11.43pm on Wednesday (October 23).

Greater Manchester Police says officers - including armed cops - arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder within an hour of the shooting being reported. In an update issued this evening (Friday), GMP says the man has since been bailed pending further investigation.

It's believed that a 'minor altercation' had taken place at around 11.20pm. The offender left on an e-bike before returning a short time later.

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The suspect is believed to have left the scene of the shooting on a black e-bike, heading in the direction of Bury Interchange. It is also thought that the victim, believed to be a doorman, and the offender were not known to one another.

The victim, a man in his 30s, suffered a gunshot wound to the wrist. He was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition receiving treatment for his injuries, GMP says.

Images from the scene on Thursday morning showed bullet holes in the window of Stanley's bar, while forensics investigators gathered evidence. A customer told the Manchester Evening Newsthey heard an 'almighty bang' before realising who had been shot.

They said: "At first people thought the sound system had blown, then people thought it was fireworks but I knew it wasn't fireworks. I could tell by the smell. That split second nobody had time to panic or scream. The doorman came in and said he had been shot, there was blood.

"He was holding his hand and he was bent over. Somebody rang the emergency services and then the ambulance, armed police and normal police came and dealt with him. An hour-and-a-half later we all got shipped out the backdoor."

A staff member at a nearby shop added: "It sounded like two fireworks. Within five minutes an ambulance was here and there were like 14 police cars. It was crazy.”

Police are continuing their enquiries and urging any witnesses to come forward. Detective Inspector Chris Mannion, from GMP’s Bury district, said: “We know that our local communities in Bury will be rightly shocked when they hear of this news.

"We also share this concern and that is why we continue to work hard to investigate and build a full timeline of events leading up to this incident. A man has been seriously injured and the lives of others put at risk. It is vital that those responsible are brought to justice.

"We believe this to be an isolated attack with no wider threat to the community. Through CCTV enquiries this morning, we are appealing for witnesses to come forward and speak to officers, you may have vital information that could help us progress our enquiries.

“If you were in the area on Wednesday evening and saw or heard anything suspicious, or have CCTV or dashcam footage that could help us with our enquiries, we ask you to contact 101 quoting log 3717 of 23/10/2024. Any information, no matter how small, could help us find those who are responsible.”