Teenager Shot In Both Legs In West Belfast

A 16-year-old boy has been shot in both legs in west Belfast.

The attack happened in the Aitnamona Crescent area at around 8.50pm on Sunday, 18 December.

He is being treated in hospital, however his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Police described the assault as "blatant child abuse".

The PSNI are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said: "This shooting of this young boy in Aitnamona Crescent was wrong and I totally condemn it.

"There can be no place for this type of activity and those responsible for shooting a young teenage boy have absolutely nothing to offer our society.

"Whoever did this does not act in the name of the local people and in fact they are at war with the community."

The Ulster Unionist Party's Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, said: "It is a tragic reality of life in too many areas of Northern Ireland that such so-called paramilitary style shootings are still a relatively common occurrence and it is all too easy for society to somehow become almost de-sensitised to them.

"The fact that the victim in this case is so young means that this incident will attract greater publicity and condemnation. This was nothing less than child abuse. Had this boy been shot by the Army, the Police or loyalists, then there would be a huge outcry. The fact he was shot by people form the republican community does not lessen the impact of this crime.

"As a democratic society we should all be furious that this type of activity is taking place in our midst. There is no place in Northern Ireland for armed gangs of any type. They therefore have no justification for using weapons to threaten or attack anyone. Every single community in Northern Ireland should only be policed by the PSNI and be subject to the rule of law." (CD/LM)