A teenage boy sustained “potentially life-threatening” gunshot wounds in a shooting near a mosque in Birmingham, police have said.

Officers were called to reports of an incident on Bowyer Road, near St Saviours Road in the Alum Rock area, shortly before 5.30pm on Wednesday.

A 16-year-old boy who was left with gunshot wounds has been taken to hospital, West Midlands police said.

The force said: “Although this happened near a mosque, at this stage we do not believe the shooting to be connected to this place of worship.

“We understand this is extremely worrying for people in the area, and local officers will be remaining there to speak to anyone with concerns.”

Any witnesses or anyone with information or dashcam or doorbell footage from the area has been urged to contact police.

Officers were carrying out forensic scientific and CCTV inquiries and speaking to people in the area on Wednesday.