A man shot dead in the street was a 23-year-old university student, police revealed today.
Armed response units were called to Ordsall Lane, in Salford, Greater Manchester, at around 1.35am today following reports a man had been shot near a McDonald's restaurant.
The victim, who has not been named, was taken to hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Greater Manchester Police said initial inquiries suggest the man had been visiting Manchester and was with a group of friends when the incident happened.
The group were approached by two men who were on foot.
One produced a handgun and shot the victim at close range before the pair fled towards Asgard Drive.
It is not believed at this stage that the two men were known to either the victim or his friends.
The area has been sealed off for forensic examination and police are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.
The gunman is described as white, in his mid-20s, of a slim build.
He was said to be wearing a grey top.
The other man was of a heavier build and wearing a black jacket.
GMP said the victim was from India and studying at Lancaster University.
He was part of a group of nine male and female students, all Indian, who were staying in a nearby hotel for a break in Manchester over the Christmas holidays.
They were heading towards the city centre when the gunman approached and engaged the victim in a "very short" conversation.
About a minute later the killer pulled out the handgun and shot the student in the side of the head, police said.
He collapsed to the ground as his killer ran off towards the Ordsall Estate.
GMP said there was nothing in early witness statements to suggest the attack was a robbery or racially motivated but officers are keeping an open mind.
The force has not revealed what was said during the short discussion.
Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan, divisional commander for Salford, said he "didn't want to go into details" about the conversation.
He added: "This appears to be an unprovoked attack and we can't establish a motive at this time.
"We are investigating every possible aspect and we are in the early stages of the investigation but we are not ruling anything out."
Initial witness statements have been taken from the other students who are described as being "in a safe place" with police until they return to their university.
The victim's parents, who are in India, have been informed.