A gunman fired a shot at a taxi with the driver and a passenger inside, police have revealed.
Detectives have launched a major investigation and are appealing for witnesses.
Police have described the gun attack in Newton Heath on Sunday as 'an isolated incident' and said they 'believe there is no wider threat to the community'.
The taxi - which hasn't been described by police - was shot at as it pulled out of Harmer Close, a cul-de-sac off busy Oldham Road.
Police said the gunman then got into what witnesses described as a light-coloured Audi car and began to pursue the taxi.
The Audi hit the taxi on Oldham Road before both vehicles continued on towards Manchester city centre after the collision.
No further details have been released by GMP.
Police were called to the scene shortly before 3.05pm on Sunday.
A GMP spokesman said: "Early enquiries suggest that the offender shot at the taxi, which had the driver as well as a passenger in it as it left Harmer Close.
"The offender then got into what witnesses described as a light coloured Audi and began to pursue the taxi.
"The taxi made its way down Oldham Road as the Audi collided with it, before both cars continued towards Manchester."
Detective Inspector Mark Davis said the driver and passenger were left 'understandably shaken'.
Making a direct appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious to come forward, he said: "Thankfully no one was injured in this incident.
"However that doesn’t mean to say that we are not treating it extremely seriously.
"We have a dedicated team of detectives working hard to establish the facts and trace those responsible, however I would like to stress that we cannot do this alone and often vital evidence lies with witnesses and members of the public.
"I'm particularly keen to speak to anyone that was on or around Oldham Road at the time of the collision between the Audi and the taxi and may have seen something that didn't seem quite right.
"No matter how insignificant it may seem- any information could prove invaluable.
"I feel it is also important to take this opportunity to stress that we are treating this as an isolated incident and believe there is no wider threat to the community."
Call police on 0161 856 1146 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The younger woman shouted: “We asked for a white driver; why do they have to send a Paki driver?!”
A TAXI driver was stabbed in the shoulder after an attempted robbery at a Darwen petrol station.
TAXI and private hire drivers have welcomed moves from Leeds City Council to encourage the installation of CCTV systems in their vehicles.
A TAXI driver has been reported for a variety of offences after being spotted parked on the motorway hard shoulder watching porn.
Cork taxi driver Joe Flavin collected a tidy fare of €33,000 when he appeared on the National Lottery TV game show Winning Streak last Saturday.
One of Inverness’s taxi companies was pitted against all the others over a proposed increase in taxi fares at a heated debate earlier today.
Oxford City Council’s Licensing Team has had a string of successes in the courts protecting the public from unsafe and unsuitable drivers.
REDDITCH taxi drivers could face more rigorous checks under the council's proposals to tighten its licensing regulations.
Just 30 taxi drivers have received loans from a scheme set up to help them buy greener vehicles, despite more than 2,000 applying.
Private hire drivers in the Capital have hit back at accusations by taxi drivers that their trade compromises passenger safety