SEVEN people have been charged by detectives investigating a shooting in Burnley.
Officers carried out a number of dawn raids on addresses across Manchester and Lancashire in a series of co-ordinated and simultaneous strikes on Tuesday (July 13th.
The arrests took place at addresses in Radcliffe, Oldham, Gorton, Cheetham Hill, Prestwich, Brierfield.
The raids follow a complex investigation codename Operation Callaway into a violent incident in Salus Street, Burnley on February 4th this year during which a man was shot in the leg and another man received a gunshot injury. Another man received a cut to the head. The injuries were not life threatening.
Three people were also arrested in connection in connection with the murder of 29-year-old Rhys Thompson in Manchester earlier this year. They have been released under investigation in relation to that enquiry.
Those charged are:
1) Mazar Shah (03/01/82), of Alms Hill Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester. Charged with Assisting an offender, Perverting the Course of Justice and Arson.
2) Elion Gllava (13/10/95), of The Parklands, Stoneclough. Charged with Conspiracy to Commit GBH with intent, Conspiracy to Possess a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life, Conspiracy to Supply a Class B drug
3) Ibrahim Beldie (16/11/89), of Hollins Road, Oldham. Charged with Conspiracy to Commit GBH with intent, Conspiracy to Possess a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life, Conspiracy to Supply a Class B drug
4) Gulam Rauf (12/6/83), of Hartley Avenue, Prestwich. Charged with Assisting an Offender, Perverting the Course of Justice and Arson
5) Andon Bita (6/5/75), of Ellen Wilkinson Crescent, Manchester. Charged with Conspiracy to Commit GBH with Intent, Conspiracy to Possess a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life and Conspiracy to Supply a Class B drug
6) Murtaza Ahmed (22/11/83), of Berry Street, Brierfield. Charged with Conspiracy to Supply a Class B drug
7) Andreas Zekaqis (1/5/91), of Acacia Road, Oldham. Charged with Conspiracy to Supply a Class B drug and Conspiracy to Possess Criminal Property
Two others – a 24-year-old woman from Radcliffe and a 48-year-old man from Cheetham Hill – have been released under investigation.
All those charged were due to appear before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday, July 15th)