A spate of shootings in Manchester was sparked by key drug players being taken off the streets, police have revealed.

Earlier this week Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy revealed three separate turf wars were behind the rise in shootings across Greater Manchester, in Salford, north Manchester and Wythenshawe - which included the fatal shooting of Salford businessman Paul Massey.

Detectives now believe the flare-up in the north of the city follows the arrests earlier this year of major drug figures, prompting a war over the vacant ‘turf’.

Now detectives fear innocent bystanders could be caught in the cross-fire as the battle between rival dealers intensifies.

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The M.E.N. has learned the police capture of four suspects around March, who remain in remand, sparked the first of a series of shooting dramas across east and north Manchester. Three houses in Ancoats and Newton Heath were blasted in apparent ‘warning’ attacks on March 27. On June 24 a masked gunman fired shots through the window of a semi in Blackley. Four hours later shots were fired at a house in Chadderton. The next day shots were fired at a house in Blackley.

With four key players taken out by police earlier this year, the incidents are seen as part of a turf war between rivals battling over cannabis and cocaine markets and even in-fighting among some gangs.

Detectives are not linking the suspected drugs war to the death of Mr Massey, 55, who was killed in a hail of bullets outside his home in Clifton, Salford.

However, it is believed that a similar but separate drugs, turf war is being waged in Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe.

(Image: Vince Cole)

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Key dealers have also been arrested in Wythenshawe but police don’t believe their removal has prompted the spike in south Manchester shootings.

A masked gunman walked to a 29-year-old man standing outside the Mountain Ash pub in Woodhouse Park and blasted him in the leg on July 23. He has been discharged from hospital.

On August 1, an 18-year-old was shot in both legs outside Foxlair Road in Wythenshawe, although police suspect his brother may have been the target.

(Image: Vincent Cole)

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Appealing for help from the public, Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry told the M.E.N: “The work we are doing tackling organised criminality leads to offenders being arrested and given custodial sentences and then that creates voids among criminal groups which leads to opportunities for other people to move in.

“To understand that picture we are reliant on working at a neighbourhood level to determine the backgrounds of who is responsible and what they are involved in. We can only solve those aspects with the community being confident in coming forward to give us information.

“We are happy for that information to be treated anonymously if they wish.”

Anyone with information about drug dealers can call GMP on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.