Probe into shooting claims in north Lurgan

Tensions have been high in North Lurgan between a number of republican groups and criminal gangs over the past few weeks.

Police visited a number of homes this week to inform individuals that death threats had been made against them.

There is also speculation that several shots were also fired into a car in the Kilwilkie estate on Monday, however this has not been corroborated.

A PSNI spokesperson said no reports of shots being fired have been received.

While the PSNI has refused to comment on specific cases, the MAIL understands police visited at least two individuals in the north Lurgan area within the last 24 hours to warn them to increase their security.

Police have had a high presence in the area over the past few days as tensions soar between rival groups in the Kilwilkie area.

One man was allegedly ‘slashed’ with a sharp object during one disturbance this week.

And in a separate incident on Monday, another two other men were allegedly beaten during a botched punishment attack.

On Tuesday several police Land Rovers went into the Kilwilkie estate and a recovery vehicle took away a white van which had been abandoned there on Monday evening following an altercation among a large group of men.

The MAIL understands that at least two individuals have been told to review their safety following alleged death threats.

When asked about these death threats a PSNI spokesperson responded: “We do not discuss the security of any individual however if we receive information that a person may need to review their security we take steps to inform them immediately. We never ignore anything that could put an individual at risk.”

Police called for the support of the community in Kilwilkie ‘to reduce tensions in the area and to report any criminal activity’.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Commander, Superintendent Davy Moore, said: “We have been aware of heightened tensions in the Kilwilkie area, particularly over the past weekend, and we have increased our presence in the locality to provide some reassurance and deter criminal and antisocial activity.

“We have been made aware of two males, possibly sustaining injuries during an assault in the Kilwilkie Estate between Sunday, 17 May and Monday, 18 May, and we are now working to establish the facts and circumstances of these reports.

“I am asking anyone with information which may assist our enquiries to contact us in Lurgan on 101.”