Police to increase patrols after second incident of shots being fired in Belfast

By Jonathan McCambridge (PA)

Police are to increase patrols in north Belfast following a second incident of shots being fired at a property in the area.

The PSNI received a report that a number of shots had been fired at a residential property in the Ainsworth Street area at around 7.45pm on Saturday.

It follows an incident where shots were fired at a house on Woodvale Avenue on Friday night.

Police have said they believe the two attacks are linked.

In both incidents, people were inside the properties but escaped injury.

Relating to the latest attack, a PSNI spokesperson said: “The shots were fired through a window at the front of the property.

“Damage was caused but thankfully those present in the property at the time, including young children, weren’t injured.

“This is the second night in a row that shots have been fired at an occupied residential property in the area.

“We are currently treating these incidents as linked and detectives are actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry.”

The spokesperson added: “Those responsible have demonstrated an astonishing level of recklessness and a complete disregard for human life, it is only by sheer luck that no one was injured or killed.

“We are treating these incidents with the utmost seriousness and the public should expect to see an enhanced police presence in the area over the coming days as enquiries continue.

“We are asking anyone who may have information, or relevant dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage that could assist with our enquiries, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1318 19/12/25.”

On Friday night police received a report that four shots were fired at a residential property in the Woodvale Avenue area at around 9.20pm.

The shots were fired through a window at the front of the property.

Damage was caused but those present in the property at the time were uninjured.

TUV deputy leader and councillor Ron McDowell condemned the shooting incident.

He said: “This is the second attack in a number of days and it must be unequivocally condemned by everyone.

“There should be no place in our community for those who have the means and intent to bring guns on to our streets.

“I grew up in the area and my parents still live on Ainsworth Street.

“But for the grace of God, we could be mourning the death of a child this morning.

“The police must be allowed the space to do their job, and I would appeal for full co-operation from the public.”

Second shooting incident in days in the Shankill area, bullet holes in a window of a house in Ainsworth Street. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN