Man shot in legs in Londonderry

A man was shot in the legs and hand today in a paramilitary-style attack, police said.

It was the latest in a series of such attacks in Londonderry, believed to have been carried out by dissident republicans trying to gain control over nationalist areas.

The victim was hit a number of times in both legs and the left hand and is in a stable condition in hospital after treatment.

Police said a number of men forced their way into a house in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry shortly after 1.30am and shot the man.

Detectives appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

It was the latest in a growing number of similar paramilitary style attacks in Derry and nationalist areas of other towns for which dissident republicans are believed to have been responsible in recent weeks.

SDLP councillor Mark Durkan said the whole community must stand firm against those responsible.

He said: "This incident could easily have resulted in a fatality and it is a sad fact that this type of behaviour is almost becoming a weekly occurrence in Derry.

"We are not going to have it. The community is not going to have it, and those who want to exercise community control in such a savage fashion need to feel the full rigours of the law.

"These gunmen are not solving problems for the community, they are creating problems.

"The PSNI is the proper agency for dealing with law-breakers and everyone must support them at this time."