An attempted murder investigation has been launched after the shooting of a taxi driver in the Poleglass area of West Belfast. A 49-year-old man was shot in the Grey Steel Manor area of the city in the morning on Sunday, February 23.
At a press briefing in Belfast on Monday the PSNI said "more violence is not the answer" as anyone with information on the attack is urged to contact detectives. More details of the attack were revealed and PSNi said that the wounded man made his way to a local taxi depot for help after being shot.
Detective Chief Inspector Gina Quinn said: “Shortly before 10.30am on Sunday morning, police received a report that a man had been shot in the Bell Street Manor area of Dunmurry. Two masked gunmen approached a stationary white Skoda Octavia taxi, and fired a number of shots through the window.
"The victim, a 49-year-old man, was struck twice before making his way on foot to a local taxi depot. Police arrived at the scene and the man was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries, where he remains and is described as being in a stable condition.
"The two suspects made off from the scene prior to police arrival. One man was described as being dressed in dark clothing and the second described as wearing a yellow coat. This is a disturbing incident which occurred in a residential area in broad daylight on a Sunday morning.
"The gunmen gave no thought whatsoever to the risk posed to the local people who live in the community when they carried out this attack. Our investigation is ongoing and a scene remains in the Bell Street Manor area this afternoon.
"I know the local community is in shock, but I want to reassure the public that we are taking this extremely seriously and will maintain a visible policing presence in the area over the coming days. There is no place in our society for this kind of shocking crime, and we are committed to finding those responsible.
"We will go where the evidence takes us and over the coming days myself and my team will be working hard to piece together all the available information - but we need help from the public to do this.
"I appeal to anyone who was in the area of Bell Street Manor who witnessed any suspicious activity in the hours before or immediately after the shooting to contact police.
"Anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can contact us on 101 and quote reference 664 of 23/02/25,” added Detective Chief Inspector Quinn.
Speaking at the press facility at Musgrave Police Station, Detective Chief Inspector Quinn said that the public will see an increased police presence across West Belfast but that it was "too early" at this stage to confirm a motive for the attack.
She added: "We'll work alongside our district colleagues and other specialist officers to help to identify those responsible and put them before the courts. It's a really early stage in the investigation, which I'm sure you'll appreciate, and we're keeping all lines of inquiry open."
In relation to online speculation surrounding a motive, police are urging the public not to engage and appealed to anyone in the community with information to once again come forward.
"I'm aware of media speculation involving retaliation and I really would urge anyone to desist and appeal for people in the community, anybody who has information in relation to what has happened or what may be to come, to come to us with the information," she continued. But again, I would urge anyone to desist in any form of retaliation - more violence is not the answer."
Detective Chief Inspector Quinn said the 49-year-old is "lucky to be alive" after the attempted murder and that there is "no place in society for this type of incident".
She said: "I would describe those as responsible as having no place in our society and I believe that society doesn't want these people to live in its community.
"The answers to what has happened lie in those communities and I urge people to have the courage to come forward and speak to us either directly or indirectly."
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·