Officers remain at the scene outside the Zia Ul Quran Masjid in the Alum Rock area
A 16-year-old boy has been left with potentially life-threatening injuries after a shooting near a mosque in east Birmingham.
Officers from West Midlands Police (WMP) were called to reports of a shooting on Bowyer Road, near St Saviours Road in the Alum Rock area of the city.
The boy has been taken to hospital while emergency services work at the scene outside the Zia Ul Quran Masjid, near the top of Bowyer Road.
Local councillors Nosheen Khalid and Shaukat Mahmood have asked the public to avoid both the area and spreading speculation online.
At this stage, officers from WMP do not believe the shooting is connected to the mosque.
The force said: “Our investigation is at an early stage, and officers remain at the scene carrying out forensic and CCTV enquiries, and speaking to people in the area.
“We understand this is extremely worrying for people in the area, and local officers will be remaining there to speak to anyone with concerns.”
"Anyone who saw what happened, or who has footage from the area, should call us on 101 or speak to us via Live Chat on our website quoting log 4638 of July 1."
The statement from Councillors Khalid and Mahmood said: "At times like this, we would ask everyone to come together as a community with compassion and respect.
"Please avoid speculating about what has happened or sharing photos or videos from the scene.
"Unverified information can cause further distress to families and may hinder the police investigation.
"Please allow our emergency services the space they need to carry out their work, and keep those affected in your thoughts and prayers."
The Alum Rock Community Forum has called for more police reinforcement in the area,
A spokesman for the forum told BirminghamLive: "Feeling safe in our own neighbourhood should be a basic right, but for many residents of Alum Rock, this is becoming harder. Currently, the local policing team is very small, just one Police Sergeant, two police officers and one PCSO.
"This limited number of officers makes it difficult to provide consistent visibility and quick responses when help is needed."In recent months, there has been a worrying rise in violence, including serious incidents such as stabbings and shootings.
"When crime increases but staffing levels stay low, it puts extra pressure on those serving the community and leaves residents feeling vulnerable. More police officers would mean better patrols, faster response times and a stronger deterrent against crime."A safer community depends on both proper policing and community support."