A DERRY councillor has expressed concern about an "increase" in paramilitary style attacks in the Ballymagroarty area of the city.
Independent councillor Sean Carr was speaking after a man aged in his 30s was shot in the leg. It is believed up to eight people were involved in the shooting in Gogarty Close on Wednesday at around 8.15pm.
Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley also said the victim was shot through the leg with the bullet also piercing his other leg.
PSNI Inspector Vince Redmond said the shooting had "all the hallmarks of a paramilitary attack".
"This was a vicious and brutal shooting in early evening when families were going about their business," he said.
"The very fact that these gunmen thought it was acceptable to recklessly shoot this man in a built-up area where children and teenagers could be passing by shows the contempt they have for people in their community."
The attack is the latest in a number of paramilitary-style incidents in Ballymagroarty in recent months.
In August, a man aged in his 60s was shot in the leg by a masked gang which forced its way into his home. In a separate incident in September, the home of a 24-year-old woman was damaged by an armed gang.
Mr Carr said: "What is happening in Ballymagroarty is particularly worrying. It is a matter of huge concern that there appears to be an increase in the number of this types of incidents in that area".
Mr McGinley added: "Such attacks are wrong and I condemn it".
