Police say the shooting of a 16-year-old in west Belfast last night was "child abuse".
The teenager was shot in the leg on Forest Street, off Springfield Road, and he was the second victim of a shooting in west Belfast in 24 hours.
On Wednesday night a man in his twenties was struck in both legs when four shots were fired at a crowd watching a car being driven on the Falls Road.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said it was too early to say if the shootings were linked but added that one line of inquiry "is around the involvement of violent dissident republicans".
He described those responsible as "predatory criminals".
There were 20 paramilitary-style shootings in west Belfast in 2016. There have already been more than five in the area since the beginning of the year with four in Turf Lodge alone.
Mr Noble said Thursday night's shooting was "child abuse".
"I would not want to speculate on exactly why individuals were targeted but there is never any justification for this violent, abusive behaviour.
“Last night saw an attack on a 16-year-old boy. Any civilised society would see that for what it is – child abuse. It is most definitely not policing or community safety activity."
He said the PSNI was the only police service in west Belfast.
"Unlike others who in recent weeks have resorted to child abuse, maiming people and acting as self-appointed judges, juries and executioners, we work in partnership with the community to resolve issues of concern."
CS Noble appealed for information on the shootings.
"The dogs in the street may well know who is responsible but what I need as the local police commander is for people to come forward and give me any information, however apparently irrelevant, that our specialist detectives can use to secure a conviction.
"Information is key in these crimes where victims are often traumatised and people emerge from and run back into the shadows.
"Policing has a clear strategy for keeping people safe in west Belfast and fundamentally it is about working with communities to solve challenges and being responsive and accountable to them.
"A strategy of maiming and abusing local young people and intimidating communities by violent, criminal, unelected and unaccountable individuals is not a strategy."
