Police are appealing for information following an attempted murder in Ardwick that happened just before Christmas.
The “brazen attack” took place in broad daylight on Stockport Road, in the Manchester residential areal of Ardwick, at approximately 3pm on Thursday 21 December, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), and since then a specialist team of detectives have been working tirelessly to understand the full circumstances.
A firearm was discharged during the distressing incident, and a member of the public had their vehicle hit by the offenders too, police have confirmed.
But thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
In a bid to understand what happened in the events leading up to this incident, a police investigation has subsequently been launched, and investigating officers are now appealing to the Greater Manchester public for any information or footage, and are urging any potential witnesses to come forward.
Police are appealing for information following an attempted murder in Ardwick just before Christmas / Credit: GMP
Police are particularly keen to hear from anyone who has information about a car that was used during the attack.
An image of the vehicle in question has now been released.
According to police, the car was a blue Mercedes 4×4-style vehicle, which did not have a registration plate on the front, and was eventually found abandoned on Clee Avenue in Longsight at a later date.
GMP has also confirmed that three people have already been arrested in connection with the incident so far, and one has been charged.
#APPEAL | Police appeal for information following an attempted murder on Stockport Rd on 21/12/23.
Do you have information about a car that was used? Pictured below.
Detective Superintendent Dave Meeney, who is from GMP City of Manchester district, said the team’s investigation is “moving at pace”.
He continued: “We’re appealing to the public who may have seen this vehicle, or the occupants, on the day of the attempted murder at around 3pm. After the incident took place on Stockport Road in Ardwick, we believe that the suspects drove to Longsight, before abandoning the vehicle on Clee Avenue.
“As is often the case, the answer to establishing the true chain of events that led to this incident and locating those responsible could lie in the community, so I ask that anyone who may have seen something suspicious in the area, or saw this vehicle, come forward and know that any information will be treated with the strictest confidence.”
Police would like to hear from anyone who was CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage from the Ardwick and Longsight areas, during 2:30pm to 3:30pm on Thursday 21 December.
Footage can be submitted via the dedicated Major Incident Public Portal here.
Aside from that, any details should be passed on by calling police on 0161 856 4305, or by using the LiveChat function on the GMP website, or alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – GMP
News
New free app launches to help people find the best nature spots in and around Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new free app has launched to help people find, discover, and visit nature on their doorstep.
Wildling is aiming to be a simple one-step solution to the growing mental health crisis and the urgent need to care for the natural world.
By helping people visit nature more easily, and giving them tools to truly connect with it at this same time, Wildling is well on its way to supporting personal wellbeing and the joy of easily discovering nature across the UK, all while nurturing a sense of care and action for the planet.
Supported by partners including the RSPB, Marine Conservation Society ,and Forestry England, and backed by advisors and environmentalists like Ben Goldsmith, Eden Project founder Tim Smit, and Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden, the new app brings the UK’s wild spaces and hidden green spots together in one place.
A new free app has launched to help people find the best nature spots in Manchester / Credit: Kitera Dent | Robin Worrall (via Unsplash)
Featuring more than 1,500 locations across the country, from coastlines and woodlands, to nature reserves, the app also includes a wide range of tips to help you make your time in nature easier, more enjoyable, and more meaningful.
The app has been created with the input of research carried out by the University of Derby, based on responses from more than 68,000 adults across England over two years.
The study found that people who spend time in nature every day report up to 22% greater life satisfaction, 17% higher happiness, and an average uplift of around 19% in overall wellbeing, compared to those who rarely go out.
Regular time in nature was also found to have a ‘striking’ effect on pro-environmental behaviour too, according to the survey.
Wildling was created by impact entrepreneur Ant Rawlins who wanted to make accessing nature ‘easier’ for everyone.
“We wanted to give people the tools to engage with nature by making it genuinely easy to visit, by showing them nearby nature places and giving them everything they need to make it happen,” says Ant Rawlins commented.
Wildling connects Mancs to the outside world and all it has to offer / Credit: Sol Stock (Supplied)
Ant said the study shows that spending more time in nature just a nice idea, it makes you happier, increases your satisfaction with life, lifts your overall wellbeing, and encourages you to look after the world around you.
“That’s exactly why Wildling was created,” he concluded.
The Wildling app is available now to download for free through the App Store and Google Play, and you can find out more here.
Featured Image – Shironosov (Supplied)
News
Chester Zoo’s viral new snow leopard cub ventures outside for the first time
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo’s adorable baby snow leopard who went viral last week could very well be about to go viral again.
That’s because new footage of it venturing outside for the first time have been released.
After arriving to first-time parents Nubra and Yashin, who are both three-years-old, last month (10 June 2025), keepers at Chester Zoo said mum and cub had mostly spent their time quietly tucked away in a cosy den, away from the eyes of the onlooking public – but now, it’s time for the little one to see what the outside world is all about.
Now, at seven-weeks old, the cub has gained in strength and confidence, and experts expected that it could venture outside at ‘any moment’.
Zookeepers are still yet to confirm the sex of the cub, and will be able to do soon once it has undergone its first health check-up with the vets.
We can also expect to hear one the little one’s name is very soon too.
If you’re unfamiliar with snow leopards, they are classed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it’s believed there are as few as 4,000 now remaining in the wild.
Nicknamed the ‘ghosts of the mountains’, these elusive – but adorable – big cats are found in the rugged, remote regions of Central Asia and the Himalayas – but sadly, despite being known for living in desolate, harsh environments, they continue to face threats from habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and retaliatory killings by farmers.
Chester Zoo’s viral new snow leopard cub ventures outside for the first time / Credit: Chester Zoo
The cub’s birth follows the opening of Chester Zoo’s Himalayan habitat in May 2024, which is a vast, rocky environment that authentically recreates the mountainous terrain of Central Asia.
“This is the first snow leopard cub to be born at Chester Zoo,” commented Dave Hall, who is the Team Manager of carnivores at Chester Zoo, last week when the adorable hidden den cam footage was first released to the public.
“It’s a truly historic moment and a real cause for celebration – not just for our teams here, but also for the future of this magnificent species globally.”
Although it’s still early days, carnivore experts at the zoo say Nubra is showing ‘excellent maternal instincts’ by nursing her new arrival every few hours and always keeping close by.
Emily Sergeant -
29th December 2023 
