Two men shot in paramilitary style attacks in Derry-Londonderry

Q Newsdesk

Police have described two paramilitary style shootings in Derry-londondery last night as "brutal and vicious".

Both incidents took place in the Ballymagroarty area just after 8pm.

In the first attack a 24 year old man was shot in the knee close to Corrib Court.

Less than ten minutes later a 32 year old man was shot in the leg at nearby O'Casey Court.

Both were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to Altnagelvin Hospital.

The PSNI says both victims will be left with both "physical and psychological scars".

Two men were injured in separate paramilitary-style shootings in Ballymagroarty area of #Derry tonight.
The men, believed to be in their 30s were shot at O’Casey Court & Corrie Court shortly after 8pm.
They have been taken to hospital, injuries not thought to be life threatening. pic.twitter.com/RY6QJ1BzD2

— Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) 1 February 2019

 Local police have condemned the attack, saying "Innocent residents shouldn’t have to worry about criminal thugs shooting people outside their homes."

SHOOTING IN BALLYMAC

It depresses me that I’ve déjà vu writing this. Two males were shot in Paramilitary Style Attacks around 8pm in two nearby locations in Ballymac

Innocent residents shouldn’t have to worry about criminal thugs shooting people outside their homes.#NoMore pic.twitter.com/N2SyIlgoVg

— PSNI DC&S District (@PSNIDCSDistrict) 1 February 2019

Meanwhile, Local DUP MLA Gary Middleton said there can be no justification for these kind of attacks:

Tonight I have spoken with senior PSNI officers who have confirmed that two men have been shot in Ballymagroarty this evening .

The PSNI are responsible for law and order in our country. There can be no justification for guns or violence on our streets.

— Gary Middleton MLA (@Gary_Middleton) 1 February 2019

Detective Sergeant Michelle Boyd said:

“Both these incidents happened within 10 minutes of each other and less than 100 metres apart.

The first, in which a 24 year old man was shot in the knee was reported to us around 8.10pm and took place on a grassed area close to Corrib Court."

“The second was reported just after 8.20pm, where a 32 year old man was shot once in the leg on a grassed area near O’Casey Court. Both men were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries."

“We are treating both incidents as paramilitary–style attacks; attacks that were brutal and vicious and will leave these two men with both physical and psychological scars. These attacks are yet again more examples of how criminal groups seek to control communities through fear and violence." 

“We would appeal to anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the Ballymagroarty area before the attacks last night to get in touch with detectives."

" “We want to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, so if you have any information that could help our investigation, please contact us on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1186 of 1/2/19.”