Police are investigating the possibility that a paramilitary-style attack in which a man was shot in the leg was a “shooting by appointment”.
A police spokesman said the victim, a man in his 20s, was “picked up” by several men in a car at Letterkenny Road in Derry before being driven approximately ten miles to Heathfield Road in Claudy where he was shot once in the leg. It is understood his injuries are not life-threatening.
“The injured man was able to make his way to a nearby house following the shooting to raise the alarm and was taken to hospital for treatment,” the spokesman said.
Sources close to the investigation said police were following two lines of inquiry, one that the man was abducted at Letterkenny Road in Derry and the other that the attack was a “shooting by appointment” where he was instructed to go to a location in advance.
The attack was condemned by Sinn Féin assembly member, Caoimhe Archibald who said it was wrong and had to be condemned.
“There is no place in our society for these types of attacks and those responsible should stop immediately,” she said.
SDLP councillor, John Boyle said the fact that the man was brought from Derry to Claudy before being shot was a worrying departure from similar attacks in the past.
“This was very brazen to take a victim and drive over a long distance before shooting him. It is always wrong and these attacks must stop; the vast majority of people are opposed to these shootings,” Mr Boyle said.
