A GANG of 25 men dressed all in black and carrying guns marched through Manchester streets - triggering a massive police operation.

It is understood that police received 999 calls from five different witnesses in different streets shortly before 4pm yesterday.

Several callers said that shots had been fired, but there were no reports of any injuries.

Police are still trying to establish what was behind the incident and are investigating whether it was an organised show of strength by a gang.

The first sighting of the `army' was on Withington Road in Moss Side, and later calls came from Carlton Road, Whalley Range, and Yarburgh Street, Great Western Street, and Barleycroft Street, near Alexandra Park.

The police response was immediate and huge, with 12 armed officers sent to the scene, backed up by 14 non-armed officers and four dog handlers and a further 37 officers put on standby.

But when police reached the area, the men in black appeared to have melted away.

More than 250 police raided the homes of suspected gang members around the region last week as part of a national day of action against gun gangs.

One witness to last night's incident said: "This is an open challenge to the police after last week's raids. They were saying `you can't stop us going where we want to go, and you can't stop us playing with our toys'.

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"I looked out of my window to see them marching down the street. I was glad I was in the house, because if you get in their way, you can get taxed.
"They came down like a pack of dogs - they were lined up like an army."

Chief Supt Dave Keller, Moss Side's top policeman, said: "While on the face of it, this seems alarming, we had a lot of support around us.

"I was there myself and we had resources ready on the ground, and ample back-up.

"I would urge anyone who knows anything to come forward and they will be protected.

"They can call a special hotline on 0161 856 4438. I would also like to thank the community for contacting us."

Forensic experts are to scour the area looking for evidence of shots being fired.

The streets where the men were spotted lie to the west of Alexandra Park - a location frequented by the Gooch Gang and their associates. Some of the men were reported to be wearing balaclavas and others scarves over their faces.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said late last night: "There is no evidence of any firearms being discharged and there have been no reports of any injuries."

Extra patrols remained in place throughout last night to provide high-visibility reassurance to the community.

Earlier this year, nine shots were fired in Rusholme after a group of about 10 men marched through streets and spent cartridges were found near a primary school.

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