Northern Ireland

Gun attack on loyalist community worker linked to 'criminal elements'

Police at the scene of a shooting in the Waterside area of Derry on Tuesday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 27-11-2018.
Police at the scene of a shooting in the Waterside area of Derry on Tuesday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 27-11-2018. Police at the scene of a shooting in the Waterside area of Derry on Tuesday. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 27-11-2018.

A gun attack on a loyalist community worker in Derry has been described as "attempted murder".

The man who works for Conflict Resolution North West, a restorative justice group with links to the Ulster Political Research Group, crashed his van into a wall after a shotgun blast narrowly missed his head following the attack in the Waterside area of Derry.

Pellets lodged in the passenger seat headrest after a lone gunman fired at the rear of the van in the Clooneyville Avenue area at around 8pm on Monday.

The shotgun blast shattered the back window of the vehicle. Despite crashing into a wall the 37-year-old driver, who was alone in the van, was unharmed.

Criminal elements have been blamed for the attack, which was not thought to be sectarian.

DUP councillor David Ramsey said the attack was "attempted murder".

"He crashed the van trying to get away," Mr Ramsey said.

"The headrest was blown off because of the shots - he wouldn't be with us today if he didn't get away quickly.

"He was actually reversing on to the footpath at the side of his house and he saw the gunman stepping out.

"He had no where to go so he ended up driving into a wall - as he was getting out the shot was fired."

Mr Ramsey said it was not clear why the man was targeted, though locally sources say that a criminal element, linked to a loyalist gang in the city may have been responsible.

"It takes brave people to get involved in this type of work", Mr Ramsey said.

"He was never under any other kind of threat before. There are a lot of angry people in the Waterside because of this"

PSNI Detective Constable Richard Donnell said: "We believe the gunman made his escape on foot along the alleyway that runs down the back of Bonds Street."

He appealed for anyone who was in the Bonds Street, May Street or Clooneyville Avenue areas at around 8pm on Monday night to come forward.