THE SEMI-NAKED body of a man apparently shot in the head was found late last night on the Braehead Road on the outskirts of Derry.
Initial reports indicated that the man’s hands were tied and eyewitnesses said it appeared he had been shot twice in the head.
There was no indication last night as to why the man was shot or when the shooting took place.
It is believed that a passing motorist saw what he believed to be a body and raised the alarm.
One of the first people on the scene said: “When I arrived I saw a body stripped to his underpants lying there. He looked to be a man in his thirties.
“His hands were tied in front of him and it looked like he had two wounds to his head.
“It was really gruesome and shocking. We grew up with this sort of thing but you don’t expect to see it these days.”
Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson was also at the scene shortly after the body was found. She said: “This is shocking and disturbing for the whole community. I am certain there will be no support within the Derry community for this sort of thing and it is not something any of us want to see returning to the city.”
SDLP councillor Mark Durkan also condemned the killing.
“Once again it seems murder has returned to our streets. This is a tragedy and a sudden loss for another local family and I am sure the people of Derry will be appalled at this cruel killing.”
Earlier yesterday, the PSNI had appealed for information after a 29-year-old man was shot in both legs in Derry on Tuesday night.
It was reported that the man was found behind the Creggan shops just before 7pm.
He was brought to hospital where his injuries were understood not to be life-threatening.
SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey condemned those responsible for the incident.
“People want to get on with their lives without this intimidation and see criminals being brought before the courts rather than thugs exercising this backstreet justice,” he said.
He said the shooting had taken place early in the evening when children would have been around the shops.
Mr Ramsey said the perpetrators had “no mandate, no legitimacy and no right to attack or intimidate” the public.