Man Shot By Masked Gunman In Coleraine In Early Hours Attack
A man has been taken to hospital after being shot by a masked gunman in Coleraine in the early hours of Sunday morning, in what police are treating as a serious firearms incident.
The shooting happened on the Bushmills Road between approximately 1:00am and 1:30am, when the victim was walking home. Police say a man dressed entirely in black, with his face covered, approached and fired four shots.
One of the bullets struck the victim in the hand. He was later taken to hospital where he is receiving treatment for his injuries.
What happened next has prompted a full police investigation. Officers sealed off part of the Bushmills Road, between the Ballycastle Road and Artillery Road junctions, as enquiries were carried out at the scene.
This was not a single shot incident. Four rounds were fired at close range, raising immediate questions about intent and whether the victim was specifically targeted. The use of a masked gunman and multiple shots points to a level of planning rather than a random encounter.
At this stage, police have not confirmed a motive, and no arrests have been reported. The investigation remains ongoing, with detectives appealing for witnesses and any dashcam, doorbell or mobile footage from the area during the timeframe of the attack.
The incident has caused concern locally, particularly given the nature of the attack and the fact it took place on a public road in the early hours of the morning.
Shootings of this kind carry echoes of previous incidents in Northern Ireland/The North, where masked gunmen and targeted attacks have long been associated with paramilitary-style activity. However, police have not confirmed any link at this stage.
The focus now remains on identifying the gunman, establishing the motive behind the attack and determining whether the victim was deliberately targeted.
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