Northern Ireland

Bullet holes show indiscriminate nature of Shankill murder attempt

Bullet holes in the back door of a house in Hopewell Crescent
Bullet holes in the back door of a house in Hopewell Crescent Bullet holes in the back door of a house in Hopewell Crescent

Pictures posted online by the home owner of a house targeted in a shooting in the Lower Shankill area of west Belfast on Sunday, show the indiscriminate nature of the attack.

A 29-year-old man remains in a critical condition following what is being treated by police as an attempted murder.

A short video clip posted by the man who lives in the Hopewell Crescent house shows bullet holes that penetrated the back door and left holes in internal walls.

It shows bullets passed straight through the door leaving holes in a number of walls.

Police have been studying a 45 second CCTV video clip also posted online which shows a car, believed to be the carrying the gunman, driving to the rear of houses at Hopewell Crescent at 11.11pm on Sunday.

Seven shots are heard in a quick burst of gunfire, before the car is seen driving away at speed.

Later a burnt-out car was found around three miles away at Fortwilliam Golf Club, off Gray's Lane. It has been taken away for forensic examination.

The victim of the attack was hit multiple times in the upper body as he stood at the back door of a house which is adjacent to the Mater Hospital.

However it is understood that he was not the intended target.

The man who lives in a property in the vicinity of the attack and is known to police was warned last month of threats against him.

The Irish News understands that as yet police have been unable to get statements from any of the witnesses to the attack, and fear further violence could follow on from Sunday's shooting.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Natalie McNally, who appealed for information, described the shooting as "a callous, brutal and violent attempt to kill."

"No matter how small or insignificant you think your information may seem, we would encourage you to come forward to police and not to share it on social media", she said.

"We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw a dark coloured saloon car leave the area at speed just before 11.15pm."