HUNT FOR HITMEN BEHIND BOTCHED SHOOTING
Police urge community to help catch gangland thugs
MURDER cops have called on the community to help them catch two gangland hitmen who shot at a young man in a terrifying daylight attack.
They asked people to put their fears to one side after the 26-year-old was shot at, chased and slashed with a knife.
Senior detectives “have no doubt” that residents will have seen the two hanging around the area before the bungled shooting – or even during it.
The victim is in hospital with “extensive” injuries.
ACOMMUNITY was thrown into panic as two gangland hitmen botched a targeted shooting on a young man visiting his family.
But murder detectives have called on that same community to put their fears to one side to help catch the men responsible.
William Barclay, 26, was in a car with family members in Dykemuir Street at around 4.30pm on Thursday in an area of North East Glasgow where Springburn meets Balornock.
As the victim was leaving the car with his family, two hitman appeared and chased him. One of the men shot at him with the bullet narrowly missing their intended target.
A chase continued down Dykemuir Street towards Red Road where the victim was repeatedly slashed with a bladed weapon.
The two hitmen quickly bolted from the scene in a blue 4x4 motor car, and that getaway vehicle travelled back up Dykemuir Street turning into Craigenbay Street.
Panicked residents, who witnessed the attack, which happened close to a children’s playpark, and streets from Balornock Primary and Wellfield Nursery School called 999 and the victim was rushed to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
His condition has been described as stable and Police Scotland would only describe his i njuries as “extensive”.
He underwent surgery and the injuries were consistent with the use of a bladed weapon.
The victim also appeared to put up at fight as Police Scotland confirmed that he had “defensive” injuries.
Police Scotland have confirmed that they are treating the incident as attempted murder.
Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham, who is leading the inquiry, believes residents may have seen the two men or the car prior to the attack.
He said: “This was a violent and sustained attack which was carried out in the middle of a residential street in broad daylight.
“This is believed to have been a targeted attack targeted at the victim and extensive inquiries are now under way to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify the individuals involved.”
He added: “I have no doubt that people will have seen these two males hanging around in this area before this attack took place, or indeed during the attack or making away along Craigenbay Street afterwards.”
The force will now focusing on tracking down the getaway vehicle in a bid to find the attackers.
DS Graham said: “There were several calls to the police. My opinion and my belief is that several people whether they’re residents or not will have seen this.
“They need to have confidence to speak to the police and provide us with whatever information they possibly can.
“I firmly believe the public will hold the key for this investigation.”
He added: “I can appreciate that people might be reluctant to become involved but I would urge them to come forward.
“They can call Crimestoppers, they can speak to anybody at their local police stations or they can speak to any of the officers here who are part of patrols in this area.”
The force have said they will also
investigate the possibility that the hit is linked to organise crime. They, however, insisted that the inquiry was at too early a stage to determine whether it is linked to any ongoing feuds in the North of Glasgow between well-known crime clans.
DS Graham said: “The fact that a fire arm has been used, organised crime is one of the aspects of this investigation that we will look at.
Whether it is related to any of the ongoing feud incidents that we have seen previously remains to be seen.”
He added: “We have had a number of shootings and we have had suc- cessful enquires to date in relation to these incidents. Whether this incident is connected to any of these, it is far too early to say.
“But that is one of the aspects that we will be investigating thoroughly in relation to this.”
The new inquiry adds to city detectives’ case load as they continue to hunt for the gunman responsible for shooting Cambuslang Rangers manager Paul McColl last month.
Although the latest incident is not thought to be linked, a gunman remains on the loose after 48-year-old Paul was shot whilst within a black Peugeot 206 vehicle i n Borgie Crescent, Cambuslang on February 21.
Paul, who was in an induced coma, is now recovering well after he was left with injuries to his face and stomach.
He received treatment for the life threatening injuries at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Murder detectives revealed this week that the silver Ford Focus car linked to the hit was stolen in Shawlands back in January.
Anyone with information on the latest shooting is asked to contact Greater Glasgow Division CID via 101, quoting incident number 2580 of Thursday 8 March 2018.
Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.