Man shot ‘by appointment’ in paramilitary-style attack
A MAN was shot “by appointment” in a paramilitary-style attack in West Belfast, police have said.
SDLP councillor Brian Heading condemned the shooting in the Hazelwood Avenue area on Tuesday night and said the perpetrators should take “their foot off the neck of our community”.
“They weren’t wanted in the past and they aren’t wanted now, particularly when our emergency services are working so hard to protect people from the impact of Covid-19,” he said.
“The local community is in shock. Those responsible need to be caught and face justice.
“I would encourage anyone with information to bring it to the PSNI.”
Detective Sergeant Eric Fairfield said: “We received a report at around 10.30pm from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service that a man had been shot in the leg. The victim, who is in his 30s, was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries to his leg.
“We believe at this time that the shooting was by appointment and that the man had been ordered to attend this location.
“This is totally barbaric and must stop. No one deserves to have this happen to them and there is absolutely no justification for an attack like this in our community.
“We must all work together to bring those responsible to justice and to stop this from happening to anyone else.
“Our enquiries are at an early stage. However, we are treating this as a paramilitary-style attack and I want to appeal to anyone who has information which may assist our investigation to pick up the phone and tell us what you know.
“If you have any information which may assist with our enquiries, please contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 2181 of 16/06/20.”