Northern Ireland

Man shot in Derry as he walked to shop with friend

The victim was shot in the leg as he walked to a shop at Dunluce Court. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
The victim was shot in the leg as he walked to a shop at Dunluce Court. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin The victim was shot in the leg as he walked to a shop at Dunluce Court. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

A man is recovering after he was pushed to the ground and shot in the leg as he walked with a friend in Derry.

The victim, who is in his 30s, was approached by two masked men at Dunluce Court in the Ballymagroarty area as he walked to a shop at around 10pm on Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Michael Winters said “Two masked males, one of whom was carrying a handgun, approached them and the victim was pushed down onto a grassy area where he was shot by one of the suspects.

“Both suspects then left. A member of the public came to the aid of the victim who was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for what is described as a non-life-threatening injury.”

The paramilitary-style attack sparked a major security operation across Derry’s west bank on Wednesday night, with police stopping and searching cars.

One of the attackers was described as being around 5’ 5’’ tall and wearing a black hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms with Nike trainers. The other man was around 5’ 7’’ tall and also had a black hooded top, black “jogger-type” bottoms, black trainers and white socks.

“This reckless attack occurred in a residential area at a time when there may have been people out and about. It is fortunate no-one was injured. There is absolutely no justification for an attack like this. It is utterly appalling and needs to stop,” Det Insp Winters said.

Sandra Duffy, Sinn Féin chair of Derry and Strabane’s policing partnership, also said it was a a “despicable act”.

“It is clear that the criminal gangs responsible for these attacks have absolutely no concern for people living here. Their only aim is to try to exert some sort of coercive control over these areas,” she said.