LAST UPDATE | 23 Feb

A MAN HAS been hospitalised following a shooting in Dunmurry, a town in Belfast. 

A PSNI spokesperson said that at around 10.30am, police received a report that two masked men had approached a taxi which was parked in the area and fired shots through the window striking the driver.

“He was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries and is described as being in a critical but stable condition.”

Police had earlier cordoned off the scene in the Bell Steel Manor area. The Bell Steel Road was closed and enquiries are ongoing, police said. 

Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker condemned the “reckless” shooting. The West Belfast MLA was on the ground immediately after the attack speaking to police and community representatives, a statement from the party said. 

Baker said that the area where the shooting occured is “an extremely busy area in our community”, adding that many local families and children pass through.

“There is no justification for guns on our streets,” Baker said, adding that he wanted to extend his “best wishes” to the injured man. 

“I will remain on the ground today, and would call on anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI.”

Local councillor for the area, Paul O’Doherty, said that the news was “very concerning”.

“I would urge people to avoid this area while police carry out their investigation and to come forward to police with any information so those behind this shooting can be apprehended and this weapon seized before causing harm to anyone else,” the SDLP councillor said. 

The PSNI spokesperson said that the investigation is “at a very early stage and we urge anyone who was in the area at the time, and who may have information, dash-cam, CCTV or doorbell footage which could assist with our enquiries, to get in touch on 101, quoting reference number 664- 23/02/25.”