Man shot dead near school in west Belfast

A man has been shot dead near a school in west Belfast.

Terrified pupils may have witnessed the attack, elected representatives said.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) attended near St Mary’s Grammar School on the Glen Road on Tuesday afternoon but transported nobody from the scene.

The victim’s Porsche car was covered in a tarpaulin and forensics officers were at the scene.

People nearby said they heard several shots.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed an incident had occurred and closed a number of roads nearby.

An NIAS statement said: “The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 15:14 on Tuesday 04 December 2018 following reports of an incident in the Glen Road area of Belfast.

“Two paramedic officers and one rapid response paramedic were dispatched to the incident.

“No one was transported from the scene.”

SDLP Belfast City Councillor Tim Attwood said the alleged attack was reckless.

“It is absolutely sickening that a gun was fired in the vicinity of both a primary and secondary school in west Belfast today.

“A number of pupils witnessed this fatality and are understandably very disturbed and frightened after this reckless act occurred nearby the school gates.

“There is absolutely no place for this in 2018; this madness belongs in the past and we cannot allow it to once again become our normality.”

Transport operator Translink said its services had been diverted.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: “Due to an incident on the Glen Rd, west Belfast, drivers are advised the area between the Monagh bypass & Glen Rd junction up to Shaws Rd & Glen Rd junction is closed until further notice.

“Please avoid the area and seek alternative route if possible.”