A man is recovering in hospital after a shooting in a loyalist area of Belfast. The victim, who is in his 30s, was shot in the leg at Braehill Park, Ballysillan, on Saturday night.
There has been an upsurge in "punishment" attacks in recent weeks. On Thursday, a man was abducted in Beechfield Street and driven to Upper Stanfield Street in the nationalist Short Strand area where he was shot in the feet. The Provisional IRA is believed to have been responsible.
Provisional IRA "punishment" shootings appeared to have stopped in November during the latter stages of the Mitchell review and the establishment of the executive.
Earlier this month, a 30-year-old man was shot in the legs in the nationalist Ardoyne area of Belfast. The following day, a 16-year-old youth was treated in hospital for severe bruising to the arms and legs after a beating in the same area.
Eight days ago, a 20-year-old man was shot in the left leg in a nationalist area of Strabane, Co Tyrone. The next day, a 20-year-old man was dragged from his car at gunpoint in the nationalist Creggan area of Derry and beaten with pick-axe handles. His car was then set on fire.
The Provisional IRA did not carry out any "punishment" shootings from November to early March. However, loyalist attacks have continued unabated. On Tuesday, a 26-year-old man was shot in both legs in the loyalist Ballysillan area of Belfast.