Man sustains 'severe' leg injuries in shooting

A man has sustained "severe" injuries after he was shot in the leg in Bangor, County Down.

The shooting in the Bloomfield Road area was reported to police at about 22:40 BST on Tuesday.

Ambulance workers and police were called to the scene and the man was taken to hospital for treatment.

"Although his injuries are thankfully not likely to be fatal, they are severe and will no doubt leave him with lasting physical and emotional trauma," Det Sgt Gray said.

"This attack has caused fear and disruption in the very community those responsible for this criminal act claim to protect and there is no justification for this violence," the officer added.

The police have appealed to witnesses to contact them.

Independent MP Alex Easton said he was "deeply shocked and concerned" by the shooting.

Easton described Bangor as a "strong community" where people deserved to "feel safe in their homes and on their streets".

He said those responsible "must be brought before the courts".

DUP MLA Stephen Dunne said the "reckless and dangerous attack" had caused "significant alarm among local residents".

"There can be absolutely no justification for this type of violence on our streets," he added.

Alliance MLA Connie Egan said there was "no place for this kind of senseless violence in our society".

Egan said the local community had been left "shocked and appalled".

"Whilst we can count ourselves lucky we did not see someone lose their life in this instance, it could so easily have been a much more tragic outcome," she said.