A murder investigation is under way following the death of a man in a shooting incident in north Belfast.
Emergency services and police attended the scene of the incident in the Cliftonville Road area of the city this evening.
Part of Cliftonville Road was closed and a number of diversions were put in place.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery said police were alerted to the shooting at around 8.15pm.
He urged anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have information about the incident to come forward and assist police with their inquiries.
Murder investigation launched. pic.twitter.com/pfUlgrr9AL
— Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) February 2, 2021
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilin said the community was deeply shocked by the incident.
"I am appealing to any witnesses to this shooting to come forward to police and assist their investigation."
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker described the attack as "brutal".
"I utterly condemn the shooting of a man on the Cliftonville Road area of North Belfast," he said.
"This is horrific news for a family to receive and the wider community is rightly shocked.
"Those responsible for this shooting have absolutely nothing to offer our community and local residents should be allowed to live their lives without the threat of violence.
"The community does not support these actions. There is no place for violence on our streets.
"An attack of this nature is senseless and horrific at any time, but particularly in the context of a global pandemic that has left our health and emergency services under huge pressure."
He appealed for anyone with information about the attack to contact police.
People Before Profit Councillor Fiona Ferguson, who lives locally, said the incident was not representative of the area, nor welcomed.
"There is never a place for gun violence or murder on our streets but this incident, with many shots reportedly fired, is particularly reprehensible," she said.
"The local community is understandably horrified. This is not representative of our local area and certainly not welcomed. My thoughts are with those impacted by the senseless act of violence."
