Young children witnessed the "brutal and horrifying" killing of a man in a shooting in Belfast, the MP for the area said.

Police have launched a murder investigation following the incident at a house on Glenbawn Avenue in Poleglass.

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It is understood a gunman entered the house with a shotgun before opening fire on the resident in the living room shortly before 8pm on Tuesday.

The PSNI said the victim was in his late 20s.

Scores of heavily armed police and emergency services swarmed to the scene within moments of the attack.

MP for the area Paul Maskey described the attack as "brutal and horrifying".

He told the Belfast Telegraph: "It is a brutal attack that was carried out in front of young children.

"This has to be condemned outright. There is no call for this, it is shocking, it is horrifying. The community is horrified.

"This action has to be stopped and stopped immediately.

"My thoughts are with the man's family."

The SDLP has criticised Sinn Fein and DUP for creating the political vacuum to allow attacks such as this to happen.

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"I am not sure why this person has been attacked," added Mr Maskey.

"What I do know is people are working for peace and have been for some time.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook

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Whatsapp Armed police arrive at the scene of a murder in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass in west Belfast on February 13th 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph)

"This action is totally uncalled for and should be left in the past. There is not a place for it."

Sinn Fein councillor Stephen Magennis has spoken to the victim's family and friends.

"They are obviously devastated and in a state of shock," he said.

"This community is stunned and outraged at this latest brutal killing.

“There can be absolutely no justification for this murder which was carried out in the most brutal fashion.

“The people carrying out these attacks are bringing nothing but death and destruction. They need to be condemned and should get off the backs of this community.

“I would appeal to anyone who has any information about this attack to bring it to the PSNI.”

The SDLP's Tim Attwood said there was shock and anger among the community at the incident.

"While the exact circumstances of what happened here this evening are unknown, what we must always be sure of, is that murder is wrong," he said.

"Those who think they can take the lives of others into their own hands are wrong. Leaving a family and a community paralysed with fear that this could happen on their doorstep is wrong."

SDLP councillor Brian Heading also condemned the attack.

"This was not a punishment attack, this was a shooting with the intent to kill," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"Obviously I condemn the attack, but it has to go deeper than that and I condemn the two main parties for creating the political vacuum that exists.

"They need to be aware their failure is resulting in people who settle their differences by shooting first and asking questions later being allowed to terrorise their communities.

"A man is dead tonight and because of the political vacuum we can expect more of this."

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery said: "At this time we are working to establish a motive for the attack and are appealing for anyone with information which may assist us with our inquiries to contact us."

Belfast Telegraph