A taxi driver shot twice in west Belfast is lucky to be alive, a senior police officer has said.
Two masked men fired shots through the window of the man’s taxi as it was parked in the Bell Steel Manor area of Dunmurry at around 10.30am on Sunday morning.
After the shooting in the residential area, the 49-year-man was able to make his way on foot into a local taxi depot. He remained in a stable condition in hospital on Monday.
PSNI detective chief inspector Gina Quinn speaking to the media at Musgrave Street police station in Belfast city centre (David Young/PA)
The hardline republican political grouping, the Republican Network for Unity, has said the victim was one of its members.
Amid concerns of a republican feud in west Belfast, PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Gina Quinn cautioned against retaliation, insisting “more violence is not the answer”.
Asked if dissident republicans were involved in the attack, Ms Quinn told reporters in Belfast on Monday that detectives were keeping all lines of inquiry open.
Ms Quinn said one of the two suspects was described as wearing dark clothing, while the other was described as wearing a yellow coat.
She called the shooting a “disturbing incident”.
“The gunmen gave no thought whatsoever to the risk posed to the local people who live in that community when they carried out this attack,” she said.
“I know the local community are in shock, but I want to reassure the public that we are taking this extremely seriously and will maintain a visible policing presence in the area over the coming days.
“There is no place in our society for this kind of shocking crime, and we are committed to finding those responsible.
“We will go to wherever the evidence takes us, and over the coming days, myself and my team will be working hard to piece together all of the available information. But we need help from the public to do this.”
The shooting happened in a residential area on Sunday morning (Liam McBurney/PA)
The senior officer said the shooting was a serious attempted murder of a man who is “lucky to be alive”.
She said those involved have no place in society.
“I believe that society doesn’t want these people to live in its community, and the answers to what has happened lie in those communities,” she added.
“I urge people to have the courage to come forward and speak to us, either directly or indirectly.”
Detective Chief Inspector Quinn told reporters that there will be an increased police presence across west Belfast.
Asked whether police believe a dissident republican group was involved in the shooting, Ms Quinn said: “It’s a really early stage in the investigation, which I’m sure you’ll appreciate, and we’re keeping all lines of inquiry open. It really is too early at this stage to confirm a motive for the attack.
“I’m aware of media speculation involving retaliation, and I really would urge anyone to desist, and (I) appeal for people in the community, anybody who has information in relation to what has happened or what may be, to come to us with the information.
“But again, I would urge anyone to desist in any form of retaliation. More violence is not the answer.”