A MAN has been injured in a so-called punishment shooting in west Belfast. It is understood the 23-year-old turned up for the paramilitary-style attack at a pre-arranged time late on Tuesday night. He was then was shot once in the right leg in the Glen Road area.
The victim is recovering in hospital from the injury, which is not thought to be life-threatening. The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information to contact them. It is also understood the victim was known to them.
There has been no claim of responsibility, but dissident groups are thought to be behind the attack. The incident has been condemned.
SDLP councillor Tim Attwood said: “Once again we have an armed gang of self-proclaimed freedom fighters systematically crippling and disabling young men. No doubt there will be some pompous statement about protecting the community, but that is not what the dissident gangs are about.”
He added: “The community has totally rejected these gangs, which is why they seek to exercise control by fear. But their control could only lead to an increase in violence and crime, including their own profitable criminal activities.
“The people of this area are tackling problems of crime and anti-social behaviour in partnership with the police and they want nothing to do with these gangs, who will be brought to book through that same partnership.”
According to the PSNI, there were 127 casualties as a result of paramilitary-style attacks in 2009-2010, more than double the 61 casualties recorded in the previous year.