Detectives are appealing for information after shots were fired at a residence in north Belfast on Saturday 20th December.

Detective Inspector McAnee said: "We received a report that a number of shots were fired at a residential property in the Ainsworth Street area at around 7:45pm.

"The shots were fired through a window at the front of the property. Damage was caused but thankfully those present in the property at the time, including young children, weren’t injured.

"This is the second night in a row that shots have been fired at an occupied residential property in the area. We are currently treating these incidents as linked and detectives are actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry. Those responsible have demonstrated an astonishing level of recklessness and a complete disregard for human life, it is only by sheer luck that no one was injured or killed.

"We are treating these incidents with the utmost seriousness and the public should expect to see an enhanced police presence in the area over the coming days as enquiries continue.

"We are asking anyone who may have information, or relevant dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage that could assist with our enquiries, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1318 19/12/25."

Information can also be submitted online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

The Crimestoppers charity can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org