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A manhunt was tonight launched after a teenager was shot dead in Toxteth.

The male, said to be 18 or 19, was reportedly found lying in the road on Holmes Street, just off busy Smithdown Road.

He had been shot in the back.

Armed police and ambulances descended on the area at around 8.30pm.

Officers tried to revive the victim until paramedics arrived. He was taken to the Royal hospital but pronounced dead a short while later.

Detectives were tonight trying to establish a motive for the attack and were working to establish the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

The shooting has led to the Toxteth end of Smithdown Road being shut off to traffic in both direction.

Nicander Road, Garmoyle Road and Holmes Street were among residential roads sealed off to allow for forensic examinations to be carried out.

Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Cummings said: “The investigation is in its early stages and extensive enquiries are being carried out to establish any potential motive and to identify those responsible.

“I would urge anyone who saw anything, or who has any information, which could help us with our enquiries to contact us urgently. You may not think that the information you have is significant but it could help us with our enquiries in relation to either of these incidents.”

A taxi driver told the ECHO: “I was driving down Smithdown and I saw armed police on the corner. I kept driving on and then I saw a couple of ambulances.

“There were police everywhere and the top of the road was then closed off.

“I was told that a man had apparently been shot dead.”

A Home Office post mortem will be carried out to establish the cause of death. The victim's identity is yet to be confirmed.

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact the Matrix team on 0800 230 0600, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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