Man Gunned Down During Laptop Robbery

A man has been shot dead on UK streets after being robbed of the laptop and £10,000 in cash he was carrying at the time.

The police have named the victim as 30-year-old Khurram Ashraf, originally from Pakistan. It is understood that Ashraf was leaving the Global Transfer office where he worked in the Longsight area of south Manchester at 6.20pm on Thursday night, when he was attacked.

During the attack Ashraf was shot in the stomach and was taken to hospital, but died of his wounds seven hours later.

A 20-year-old man from the Longsight area has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody. Greater Manchester Police have since recovered the laptop and money.

Speaking to the BBC, Superintendent Simon Retford said the incident was being treated as a “potential robbery” and was not believed to be gang-related.

“I would add that firearms-related incidents have reduced significantly in Greater Manchester,” said the officer. He urged businesses in the area – a busy part of south Manchester – to exercise vigilance when closing and to consider banking their takings earlier to avoid “leaving themselves vulnerable to attack”.

A friend of the victim who did not want to be name told the BBC that Ashraf was apparently gunned down after he left the shop with a group of his friends, including Mr Waqas.

“A man came from the business park and put the gun into Mr Waqas, a small pistol, into his stomach. He had the bag of money,” said the friend.

“The killer said, ‘Give me the bag, give me the bag’.

“Mr Waqas threw it to Khurram. The killer hit Mr Waqas with the butt of the gun in the face.

“Khurram resisted the person who was holding the gun and that’s why he shot him, two times, but one shot hit him in the stomach.

“Mr Waqas ran after him and he put two shots to him but they missed.”