A gang smashed a woman over the head with a hammer and fired shots into the ground floor window of a house on Saturday during a chaotic manhunt in Tyldesley.
The men approached a 24-year-old woman who was walking on Rutland Road at around 3.05pm asking where a man lived.
When she told them she did not know they struck her with a hammer and proceeded to walk to a house on the same street where they fired a shot through the window and used the hammer to attack a car parked outside the residence.
The men then drove off on Shakerley Road towards Tyldesley Road in a dark Audi with an old-style shape.
Detective Inspector Martin Reddington based at Wigan Police Station said: “From our initial enquiries, it appears that this is not a random act and they had a clear target in mind.
Fortunately no one was present in the room where the firearm was discharged and the only injury suffered was a minor laceration to the woman. It is however a cowardly attack as whoever fired the shot would have been totally unaware who may have been inside the room.
“Obviously local residents will be concerned to hear about what has gone on in their neighbourhood. Patrols have been increased in the area to provide reassurance and I would urge anyone who has any concerns to speak to their local officer.
“If you believe you saw anything suspicious in or around the Rutland Road area on Saturday afternoon, I would ask you to come forward. You may think you saw something but feel it would be insignificant to our investigation.
Anyone with information should call Leigh police on 0161 856 7225 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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