Northern Ireland

West Belfast shooting condemned

A man has been shot in the leg in west Belfast
A man has been shot in the leg in west Belfast A man has been shot in the leg in west Belfast

GROUPS behind paramilitary-style attacks have been told they have no support after a man was shot in the leg in west Belfast.

The victim, who is in 40s, was taken to hospital after being shot in an entry in the Creeslough Walk area of Lenadoon at around 8.15pm on Sunday.

It is reported that two men dressed in black clothes took the man, who it is understood is not from the area, into an alleyway and shot him in the left leg.

It was not clear last night if the shooting was 'by appointment'.

An apparent picture of the victim believed to have been taken shortly after the shooting was later circulated on social media.

The man, who was wearing shorts and a hat, can be seen lying outstretched with what appears to be a white towel wrapped around his lower left leg.

Sinn Féin councillor Arder Carson said the community “unreservedly rejects” such attacks.

“There is absolutely no support for this type of action in this community,” he said.

“They are sick of it and have had their fill of it and (the message to) those involved in it (is) go away and get off their backs.

“It serves no purpose and advances no cause and there's no support for it.”

The PSNI said it is treating the shooting as a “paramilitary-style assault” and described it as “barbaric”.