PSNI treat Belfast attack as attempted murder

Police are treating the wounding of a man on the outskirts of north Belfast as attempted murder, it was confirmed today.

The victim, whose dog was killed in the attack, was fixing a flat tyre outside his house at Mayfield Dale in the Hightown Road area of Glengormley earlier today when he was approached by a car carrying four men.

The father of two suffered hand and leg injuries as he fled from his assailants. The incident happened a short distance from his home.

The family dog, a boxer, was shot dead in the attack.

The victim’s partner was chased by one of the attackers carrying a hammer, but was uninjured.

The car was later found burned out at Brompton Park in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.

A police spokeswoman confirmed detectives investigating the shooting were treating it as attempted murder.

At this stage they believe there is no reason to suggest that the attack was sectarian.