Teenager arrested after boy, 16, left with life-threatening gunshot wounds in Birmingham

Teenager arrested after boy, 16, left with life-threatening gunshot wounds in Birmingham A 16 year old is in critical condition following the incident - Bookmark A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a teenager was shot in Birmingham on Wednesday evening. The teenager, 16, suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds and remains in critical condition in the hospital. West Midlands Police received reports of a shooting close to a mosque on Bowyer Road, near St Saviours Road in Alum Rock, at 5.30pm. They do not currently believe the shooting was connected to the Zia Ul Quran Masjid mosque. In a statement on Thursday, detective inspector Francis Nock said: “Our investigation is continuing and I would urge anyone who might have seen something or has dashcam or doorbell footage to get in touch. “Officers will be in the area today to offer reassurance to the local community.” The 17 year old was arrested on Wednesday night and remains in police custody. In an earlier statement, police said: “We understand this is extremely worrying for people in the area, and local officers will be remaining there to speak to anyone with concerns.” Birmingham City councillors Nosheen Khalid and Shaukat Mahmood said they were “deeply saddened” by the incident, and asked the public to avoid online speculation. In a joint statement, they said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the young man, their family and loved ones, and everyone affected by what has happened. “At times like this, we would ask everyone to come together as a community with compassion and respect. Please avoid speculating about what has happened or sharing photos or videos from the scene. Unverified information can cause further distress to families and may hinder the police investigation. “Please allow our emergency services the space they need to carry out their work, and keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers.” Police have asked anyone who has footage or saw what happened to call 101 or contact them via Live Chat on their website by quoting log 4638 of 1 July. Anyone who wishes to speak anonymously can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, they added. This is a breaking news story, more to follow... Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent