DETECTIVES have launched a murder bid inquiry after a man was left in a critical condition in hospital following a dissident republican ‘punishment shooting’.
The who man, who is aged in his 20s, was shot twice in the leg last night in the Creggan area.
The attack happened at Magowan Park around 9 pm at a new housing development.
PSNI Supt Mark McEwan said the attack bore all the hallmarks of a paramilitary assault.
He said the investigation would focus on “violent dissident republicans” and described the attack as “barbaric”.
“Whether [the] intent or not, these incidents can result in a fatality,” he said.
Last Friday night, Michael McGibbon bled to death after being shot in the legs three times in north Belfast.
One of the bullets severed an artery in his thigh.
Last night’s victim was initially taken to Altnagelvin Hospital for treatment for two gunshot wounds to his right leg.
But because of the seriousness of his injuries he was transferred to a specialist team at the Royal Victoria Hospital in west Belfast.
Supt McEwan told BBC Radio Foyle: “This has all the hallmarks of a paramilitary assault and we are regarding it as such We’ve seen this type of assault in the city before.
“We would appeal to the public to come forward with any information they have because assaults like this are incredibly difficult to deal with.”
Supt McEwan also responded to reports that it took police an hour to arrive at the scene.
“We are looking at the time frame it took but there are other considerations for officers operating in this area.
“We have had attacks on police officers before and we know that some of these groupings will stage these types of incidents to mount an attack.”
Police have cordoned off the scene for a forensic examination.
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