London, Dec 27: A 23-year-old Indian student in Britain has been shot dead during a visit with friends to Manchester.

Anuj Bidve was studying a micro-electronics postgraduate qualification at Lancaster University.

Bidve, along with his other Indian friends walked from their hotel in Salford towards Manchester city centre on Monday, where they were stopped by a man who began a short conversation with the victim before taking out a handgun and blasting him at close range.

Greater Manchester Police said it was an “awful” attack and pledged to “leave no stone unturned” in the hunt for the killer, The Telegraph reports.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan, divisional commander for Salford, said that a racial motive for the killing was not being ruled out, and that they are “investigating every possible aspect.”

“This is a tragic incident and our first thoughts are for the family.There is going to be a huge amount of concern in the community and I can reassure the family and the community by telling them we have launched a major investigation and no stone will be left unturned until we find the people who are responsible for this,” the officer added.

According to the report, officers carried out forensic examinations at the scene and stepped up patrols of the area.

Post mortem results are expected to confirm tomorrow that Bidve died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

Initial witness statements have been taken from the other eight students who are now “in a safe place” being cared for by police until they return to university, Mulligan said.