A man suffered a leg wound when a shot was fired into the house in in Derry in what police have described as a “savage” attack on Sunday.
The victim, who was in his twenties, was injured when a group of masked men opened fire from outside the house at Ridegeway Drive in the Curryneirin area of Derry’s Waterside. The man was treated in hospital for an injury to his thigh. Police said a young child was also in the house at the time of the shooting.
A PSNI spokeswoman said police received a report of the shooting from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service shortly after 6.50pm on Sunday. Police believe the gang fled the area in a dark-coloured vehicle.
“This was a brutal attack which has left the victim not just physically injured but also traumatised. Two others adults and a child were in the house at the time of the shooting. Fortunately, they were not injured but there is no doubt they will have been left traumatised.
“It is abhorrent that those who carried out this savage attack gave no thought to their victim, let alone anyone else in the house, including a young child,” the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman described the shooting as a “reckless attack” which could have resulted in someone being killed.
“It is fortunate we are not dealing with such a tragic outcome today. There is no justification for this type of violence and attacks like these not only place the victim at risk but also the local community,” she said.
Waterside Ulster Unionist councillor Darren Guy said Sunday’s attack was all the more shocking because the Curryneirin and Tullyally areas had been relatively quiet in recent months.
Mr Guy said: “I completely condemn this. While there had been some assaults in the area recently, it’s a long time since anyone was shot. It’s particularly vicious given the fact that we are just days from Christmas.
“There is no place for the gun on our streets and I would urge anyone with information about this attack to contact police.”
Sinn Féin councillor, Christopher Jackson said no family should feel unsafe in their own homes, not least when preparing to celebrate Christmas.
“It is even more reckless that this attack was carried out while a young child was in the house and who will now be left traumatised as a result,” Mr Jackson said.
