Salford shooting: Five arrested in connection with shooting of seven-year-boy and his mother on their doorstep

Christian Hickey was seven-years-old when he was shot

Christian Hickey, 7, in hospital after he was shot (Greater Manchester Police)

Police investigating the shooting of a young boy and his mother on their doorstep have made a number of arrests.

Christian Hickey, then aged seven, was shot in the leg and Jayne Hickey, 30, was shot twice in her legs in the targeted attack at their home in Salford, Greater Manchester, in October 2015.

Two men knocked at the door of the Eccles home and one of them fired a number of shots after a brief conversation in which they reportedly asked for the boy's father, Christian Hickey senior.

Both victims were taken to hospital and had to undergo numerous surgeries before being discharged.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said addresses in Salford, Stockport and Somerset were raided in connection with the doorstep incident and a linked shooting at a car wash in Ashton-in-Makerfield in March 2015 in which a 31-year-old man was seriously injured.

Five men were arrested in connection with the shooting of Christian and Jayne Hickey, two men were arrested over the car wash shooting and one man, a 48-year-old produced from prison, was held in connection with both incidents.

Those detained are being questioned on conspiracy to commit murder and/or perverting the course of justice.

Detective Chief Inspector Carl Jones, of GMP's major incident team, said: "It has been almost three years since a young boy and his mum were shot on the doorstep of their own home in an incident that shocked members of the public nationwide.

"We have had a team of detectives working meticulously ever since and today's warrants have come as a result of their hard work.

"As well as that particular incident, we have made a number of arrests in connection with a linked shooting that took place at a car wash in Wigan months before and left a man requiring hospital treatment.

"In total we have eight men currently in custody who will be questioned by detectives."

Press Association