POLICE are appealing for witnesses following two separate paramilitary style attacks over the weekend.
At approximately 1.30am on Saturday a 30-year-old man was walking along Henry Place in north Belfast when he was attacked by two men and shot once in both legs.
The victim, reported to be Cheikh Ba, who lives in Ardoyne, was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries, which are not life-threatening.
Police have described it as a “brutal and horrific” attack and have appealed for information.
In a separate incident, a paramilitary style assault and arson attack was reported in Larne in the early hours of Saturday morning.
At approximately 12.40am police received a report of a car on fire at a property in Argyll View. On arrival police discovered one vehicle was on fire and two other vehicles had damage caused to their windows.
A man in a house had sustained serious injuries as a result of an attack by a group of males. He has been taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries, which are not life-threatening.
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A 22-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following a serious assault in Banbridge on Friday.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man in his 40s was attacked in the Scarva Walk area around 4pm.
The victim is being treated in hospital for head and facial injuries as a result of the attack.
A 22-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences including attempted murder, criminal damage, theft and assaults on police, while a 20-year-old man has also been charged with GBH with intent and theft.
Both are due to appear at Banbridge Magistrates’ Court (sitting in Newry) today.
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Two hikers are in hospital after being rescued by the Coastguard helicopter from the Mourne Mountains on Saturday evening.
The two men, thought to be in their 20s, were part of a group of four who were descending Slieve Bearnagh and got into difficulties at around 4.30pm.
One of the men had fallen near granite slabs on the mountain and suffered head and back injuries, and the second was hurt while he tried to help.
The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) assisted the group and 18 volunteers were involved in the response.
The HM Coastguard helicopter from Holyhead in Wales was called for the first faller "due to the severity the casualties injuries", the MMRT said.
While an Irish Coast Guard helicopter then flew from Dublin for the second man when his condition deteriorated as he was being taken from the mountain.
The pair were airlifted to Belfast and last night were still receiving treatment in hospital.
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An 11-year-old boy has sustained serious injuries following an incident involving a tractor in the Castlewellan area on Saturday.
The incident, which took place at around 1.45pm necessitated the need for the use of the Air Ambulance – the first time the service has been used in the north.
Due to the time critical aspect of the call the aircraft was tasked to bring the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) doctor and paramedic to the scene.
The child was was airlifted to Belfast and has been taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children for further treatment where it is hoped he will make a full recovery.
The Air Ambulance team is currently working through final preparations including training and familiarisation flights ahead of a launch of the service next month.
The campaign for an air ambulance in Northern Ireland was initiated by the later Dr John Hinds, who died in 2015.
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A 33-year-old man has been charged following an attempted armed robbery in Newtownards on Saturday morning.
At around 11.40am on Saturday it was reported that a man wearing a balaclava entered a commercial premises on East Street and demanded a sum of cash whilst carrying a suspected firearm.
Described as of slim build and wearing a dark coloured hooded top, denim jeans and white coloured trainers he then made off on foot along East Street.
He was arrested and subsequently charged man with attempted robbery and carrying a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence. He is due to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates’ Court today.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed any suspicious behaviour in the area is asked to contact police.
In a separate incident two men armed with knives threatened staff during a robbery at a shop in Dundonald on Friday morning.
The incident happened at premises on the Upper Newtownards Road at about 7.20am.
No one was injured during the robbery, but the thieves made off with a sum of cash.
One of the males was believed be around 5ft 6ins in height and wearing an electric blue hooded top and grey bottoms. The second man was believed to be around 6ft in height and dressed in a black top and bottoms.
Police are appealing for witnesses.
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Police are investigating a shooting at a business premises in Co Armagh.
Staff at a vehicle servicing firm on Annvale Road in Keady were left “very badly shaken” following the attack on Friday evening.
At about 5.25pm two men in a white Hyundai car were reported to have entered the grounds of the business.
One of the men then got out of the car and fired two shots.
The car used was later found found burnt out on Dundrum Road near Tassagh in County Armagh about 20 minutes later.
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Police have seized a significant amount of drugs, cash and drug-related paraphernalia from a house in Ballymena.
Detectives investigating serious crime have arrested a 49-year-old man following a search in the Clooney Road area of Ballymena on Friday.
Detective Sergeant Gavin Pue said the man was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including possession of Class A and Class B controlled drugs with intent to supply.