Two 17 year old boys from Broughton, Manchester, have been arrested on suspicion of possessing and discharging a firearm after an incident in the early hours of this morning when a gun was fired at the Yeshiva in Upper Park Road, Broughton.

The incident is not being treated as a hate crime or anti-Semitic.

No one was injured in the attack in the area of the Shaarei Torah Yehiva in the mainly Jewish area of Broughton Park at around 2am this morning. Two cars were reportedly driving erratically around the yeshiva, the largest of its kind in Manchester and a large multi-storey building prominent for its Hebrew writing fronting its street entrance. Some of the talmudic college’s 170, mainly teenage, students came outside the building to discover the source of the disturbance when a flash was seen and a shot heard coming from the window of one of the cars. At least one bullet casing was discovered by students on road shortly after the cars sped off. Police have been on the scene all day, after having arrived moments after the incident, and cordoned off the road immediately outside the college.

Most of the college’s students are residential, and it is understood the scene inside the building is calm.

A statement issued this evening by Greater Manchester Police said that investigations are ongoing and both boys are in police custody for questioning.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan said: “There are increased police patrols in the area and we are working with the local community, partners and the CST to reassure the community. It is believed at this time, the incident does not relate to terrorism, the ongoing terrorism trial or organised crime activity.”

(Source: The JC)