‘Vigilante’ gun attacks slammed
Two men have been shot in the legs in separate paramilitary-style gun attacks, within hours of each other, in north Belfast.
One of the victims – a man in his 20s – is understood to be in a critical condition in hospital after he was shot multiple times by a gang of three masked men, at Brompton Park in Ardoyne on Monday night.
Then shortly before 10.30am on Tuesday, an 18-year-old man was shot twice in each leg at a flat on the Antrim Road.
Politicians have condemned the use of “vigilante justice” in the area.
Speaking in the wake of the first attack, SDLP MLA Alban Maginness said: “Whatever the motivation for this shooting, there is no justification for this activity.
“Brompton Park is a close-knit residential area with lots of young families and elderly people – the sound of these gun shots last night must have been startling and frightening for people living on this street and in the wider Ardoyne area.”
His party colleague, Councillor Nichola Mallon, said local people had been outraged by the gun attacks.
“This violent crime was wrong in the past and is wrong today,” she said.
“Those responsible seem to think that they can take the law into their own hands and incite fear within this community.
“However, the people of Ardoyne do not want this on their doorsteps and are annoyed that these thugs have carried out this shooting in their name.”
Police have appealed for anyone with information about either shooting to contact them.
