The mother of a man shot in a paramilitary style attack in Derry heard his cries of pain and ran to his aid, the PSNI said on Friday.
In separate incidents in Belfast and Derry, two men were shot in both legs .
The PSNI said a 25-year-old man was injured in a “paramilitary-style” gun attack in Lisfannon Park in Derry 7pm on Friday.
“The 25-year-old victim has sustained gunshot wounds to both legs in a sickening and vicious attack. He was targeted in a residential area during the early evening when children and families were going about their normal everyday lives. This is despicable and should not happen in a civilised society,” a PSNI spokesman said.
“What makes this incident all the more shocking is that the victims own mother heard his cries of pain and ran to his aid.”
He appealed “to the people of this community to help us identify the perpetrators of this callous attack”.
In a separate incident, a man was shot in both legs at Westrock Park in west Belfast at about 8pm on Friday.
Both men were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries, which are not thought to be life threatening.