A POLICEMAN has been shot twice in the arm in a drive-by shooting at a filling station close to a north Belfast interface.
The officer, who was in uniform, was ambushed in the forecourt of a Maxol station on Crumlin Road at around 7.30pm on Sunday.
A man was later arrested in north Belfast. Unconfirmed reports suggested police were searching a house in the New Lodge area late on Sunday.
It is believed several shots were fired. People living nearby reported hearing at least six shots.
The policeman was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital for treatment. A spokeswoman for the Belfast Trust said the officer was in a stable condition on Sunday night.
Police said the officer was conscious on Sunday evening and that his family were at his bedside. A senior officer said on Sunday night that police believe dissident republicans were behind the shooting.
The filling station is close to Tennent Street PSNI Station and is used daily by police officers.
Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation, said the attack was "attempted murder" and claimed "terrorists"with a "warped and outdated plan" were responsible.
"The police serve the entire community and wounding one individual is an attack on the entire community," he said.
"This attempted murder underlines the fragility of our peace."
The attack has been roundly condemned by politicians including former First Minister Arlene Foster who described it as "the work of cowards".
SDLP North Belfast MLA Nichola Mallon said those responsible were were "calculating criminals".
"This community has rejected the men of violence before and it will do so again," she said. "There will be no cover given to those who seek to destabilise our progress and bring mayhem back to our streets."
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly condemned the drive-by attack.
"Those responsible for this attack are the same people who are attacking the local community," he said. "They have absolutely nothing to offer society and need to call a halt to these activities immediately."
DUP MP Nigel Dodds said the attack "echoes back" to the Troubles.
"We must be mindful how a threat to the future of the political institutions can create a vacuum, which terrorists such as these will seek to fill," he said.
Secretary of State James Brokenshire said he was "shocked and appalled" by the "cowardly shooting", adding that he had already spoken to the Chief Constable.
"To attack officers who are going about their daily duty protecting the entire community is sickening," he said.
Alliance leader Naomi Long said those responsible "intended to kill".
"Using guns in a residential area shows a callous disregard for the entire community and should be condemned without reservation," she said.
Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said those responsible were "cowards".
"My thoughts are with the injured officer, their colleagues and family, and my prayers are for a full and speedy recovery," he said.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny condemned the shooting, describing it as an "outrageous and cowardly act".
The Rev Bill Mullally, president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, also condemned the attack.
"Like others I felt that such senseless incidents had been confined to history. but it would appear that there are those in our society, who,are attempting to exploit the current political vacuum for their own ends," he said.
"I would call on those who may have information about this attack to be in contact with the PSNI so that they may prevent any further attacks.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the injured officer, his family and colleagues."
Justice Minister Claire Sugden said the gun attack was a "mindless act".
"The people who carried out this shooting did so with the sole intention of dragging Northern Ireland back to darker days," she said.
"This is a sickening act which could easily have led to a loss of life. My thoughts are with the police officer and his family at this time and indeed, with the wider PSNI family who will be shocked and saddened by this incident."
Ms Sugden added: "There can be no tolerance of this horrific and reprehensible behaviour in our society. This is not what we want for the future of Northern Ireland and I condemn it whole-heartedly."
