Police investigating two attacks last Friday are today issuing a second appeal for a car they believe was involved

August 16, 2012, 3:13 pm

Police investigating two attacks last Friday are today issuing a second appeal for a car they believe was involved.

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Officers are still searching for two men, Cregan and Wilkinson, who they want to speak to in connection with the two incidents, which left one man dead.

Police found a silver five-door Ford Fiesta, registration BJ52 XMX, abandoned on Lord Lane in Failsworth at around 11.30am last Friday 10 August 2012.

The car had been purchased on Thursday 9 August at 2pm.

Officers are also keen to hear from anyone that saw a white Vauxhall Combo van any time after it was hired from Salford Van Hire at 4.45pm on Thursday evening, up to 10.30am on Friday morning.

Police also now have further details on the weapons used in the explosion, which are believed to be military grenades from Yugoslavia.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said: “Today we are releasing further details about a second vehicle we believe the offenders used during last Fridays attacks.

“We are appealing to the public to let us know if they saw the Fiesta anytime after it was bought last Thursday at 2pm, up to the time it was found on Friday morning. Please get in touch with us if you have any information – you may think what you saw is only trivial but it could be important to our investigation.

“We continue to have a considerable police presence, including armed officers, in the Clayton and Droylsden areas. We also have a large number of detectives investigating last weeks incidents, who have made significant developments to identify those involved in the attacks and the murder of David Short.

“We do not believe that the two attacks last Friday were random, but understandably, people in the area are still hugely concerned by what they may have seen and heard.

“We have arrested three people so far in connection with Fridays attacks and we are continuing to look for two other men – 29-year-old Dale Cregan and 33-year-old Anthony Wilkinson – who we still want to speak to. We are urging any members of the public that have seen either of these men since Friday morning, or who know where they are now, to contact us immediately. Please do not try and approach them, but call the police on 999.”

A 28-year-old man who was arrested on Tuesday in Droylsden on suspicion of murder has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Two men, aged 37 and 25, who were arrested over the weekend on suspicion of murder have both been bailed pending further inquiries.

Dale Cregan is also wanted in connection with the murder of Mark Short, Davids son, at the Cotton Tree Pub on 25 May 2012.

At 10.30am on Friday 10 August 2012, the body of 46-year-old David Short was found at a house on Folkestone Road East in Clayton after police were called there following reports of gunshots. There had also been an explosion at the address, which was caused by a grenade.

Less than ten minutes later, shots were fired and there was another grenade explosion outside a house on Luke Road in Droylsden. No-one was injured during this incident.

Anyone with information in relation to this investigation is asked to call police at the Major Incident Team on 0161 856 3301 or 101, or call the independent charity Crime stoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.