'Wild West' fear as motorbike shooting follows murder

An Ulster Unionist tonight claimed east Belfast was becoming “the Wild West” after a second gun attack linked to feuding among rival loyalist factions left a teenager wounded.

The 19-year-old was getting into a car in the Ravenscroft Avenue area of east Belfast when two men on a motorbike blasted at him with a shotgun.

Eyewitnesses claimed the victim sustained a head injury although his condition was not believed to be life-threatening.

The gun attack came within 24 hours of the murder of 41-year-old Geoffrey Thomas Gray in Ravenhill Avenue.

His killing was blamed by police on tensions within loyalism.

Ulster Unionist councillor Jim Rodgers claimed people in east Belfast were living in terror because of the feuding which has erupted between factions from the Ulster Defence Association and Loyalist Volunteer Force.

“This latest attack coming on the back of the murder last night is absolutely appalling,” the UUP Assembly candidate said.

“I have been talking to the business community and they have been saying to me that since this trouble erupted the community has been staying indoors because of the fear and tension.

“People are running about like it’s the Wild West.

“I would hope those factions would see sense and end this now.

“I would also urge police to keep a heavy security presence in this area to prevent this sort of thing happening.”