PSNI appeal for witnesses after 'repugnant' double shooting in Derry

Both men were hospitalised with their injuries. File picture.

The PSNI believe dissident republicans are responsible for the shooting of two men in the Rinmore drive area of Derry City yesterday evening. 

Both men received gunshot wounds to their legs and are still being treated for their injuries in hospital. 

The PSNI were alerted to the shooting just after 6.35pm yesterday evening and have said they are in serious condition. 

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has described the incident as "utterly depressing". 

Mr Eastwood condemned the shooting yesterday evening in a post on social media. 

"Utterly depressing that we've had a double shooting in Derry tonight. Our hospital has enough to deal with at this time. 

"We don't want the law of the jungle in our city. Get off our backs," he said. 

Utterly depressing that we've had a double shooting in Derry tonight. Our hospital has enough to deal with at this time. We don't want the law of the jungle in our city. Get off our backs.

— Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) February 6, 2021

One of the men is aged 48 and the other is 31. 

Sinn Féin MLA, Karen Mullan said there is no place for guns on the streets of Derry. 

“The shooting of two people in Creggan tonight is wrong and I condemn it.

“There is no place for guns or this type of activity on our streets.

“This is the fourth shooting since Christmas. We are in the middle of a pandemic, our health service is already stretched to the limit. 

"This is the last thing people of this city want to see," she said. 

The PSNI are appealing for witnesses to the double shooting. 

Detective Inspector Michael Boyd said: "Our officers are continuing with their enquiries into these savage attacks, which we believe were carried out by dissident republicans.

"The fact the victims were shot in a residential area at a time when people would have been out and about shows just how reckless those responsible are, and how they have no regard whatsoever for life.

"Last night's double shooting brings the number of shootings in our city to four since the start of the year. They are simply unacceptable and there can never be any justification for them.

Carrying out attacks like this during a global health pandemic is particularly repugnant. 

"We know the majority of people are working hard to keep their community safe and to protect the NHS, yet these violent criminals are endangering lives and increasing pressures on our emergency services and frontline workers.

"I am appealing to the public to help us remove these violent criminals from our community by bringing any information they have to us.

“In particular, we want to hear from anyone who was in the area at around 6:30pm and saw what happened to call our detectives at Strand Road on 101, quoting reference number 1559 of 06/02/21."

"Information can also be given on the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ 

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/