A man has been taken to hospital after being shot in the leg in Derry on Friday night on police suspicion it was an “attack on paramilitary style”.
His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, although they could be life-changing, according to a statement from the Northern Ireland Police Service (PSNI). Fire services also attended the scene as a vehicle caught fire.
This is the second shooting in the city in two days.
Police are now appealing for information following what they described as the “barbaric shooting” outside a residential property in the Creggan Heights area at about 7.45pm.
PSNI Detective Sergeant Gavin McLaughlin said an investigation had been launched into the incident which “bears all the hallmarks of a paramilitary assault”.
He added: “Those responsible for this criminal act do not represent the interests of this community and do not contribute to it. They do this to represent, influence or control those they claim to be. ”
SDLP leader and MP for Foyle Colum Eastwood said on Twitter: “Tonight’s shooting in Creggan is the second attack on the community since Wednesday night. [Yesterday] we heard the pleas of people from Creggan to those responsible for stopping this violence. ”
He added: ‘The people of Derry do not want it. They must now stop terrorizing our community. ”
Sinn Féin, MLA, Karen Mullan, condemned the shooting, saying: “At a time when our hospitals are under severe pressure and people are dying from the pandemic, this is the last thing the residents of Derry want to see.”
Anyone with information should contact the police on 101 with reference number 1634/8/01/21, or submit a report online by reporting the PSNI’s non-emergency form.