Two men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was shot in the shoulder in Cowley Road last night.

The arrested men – whose ages have not been released by the police – remain in custody, Thames Valley Police said.

The victim of the shooting, who suffered a ‘small wound’ to his shoulder, has now been discharged from hospital.

READ MORE: Pictures from scene of Cowley Road 'shooting'

Oxford police commander Supt Bruce Riddell, said: “This is naturally a concerning incident, but I would reassure the local community that we have now made two arrests and our investigation is making good progress.

“At this early stage of the investigation, we believe that the offenders and victim are known to each other and this may have been a targeted attack.

“We are following a number of lines of enquiry and the public will see an increased police presence in the area while we continue to investigate.”

The shooting is believed to have taken place at the junction of Cowley Road and Crown Street at around 6.45pm on Sunday. Cowley Road was closed off for more than two-and-a-half hours while police recovered a black 2007-plate Vauxhall Corsa, which had damage to its front bumper.

Oxford Mail: Police tape surrounds the Vauxhall Corsa on Cowley Road on Sunday nightPolice tape surrounds the Vauxhall Corsa on Cowley Road on Sunday night

The shooting shocked bystanders.

One woman on Crown Street, who asked not to give her name, said: “It’s very shocking to hear of something like this happening on the street.”

Another man, 30, told the Oxford Mail: “It’s a bizarre Cowley Road experience. It’s not something you expect to see in Oxford.”

READ MORE: Live updates after police seal off Cowley Road 

Seeking to assuage concerns, Mr Riddell of Thames Valley Police said: “I would ask anybody who has any concerns to please speak to any of our officers, and they will be happy to address these with you.

“We would like to reiterate our appeal for the public’s help and would ask anybody who witnessed this incident and has not yet spoken to police to please call 101, quoting reference 1826 of 24 July.

“We would be particularly keen to hear from anybody who may have dash-cam footage from the area. Please check this and contact us if it has captured anything that could assist this investigation.”

Information can be left anonymously, via Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward