A man is recovering in hospital after being shot in the incident which happened at Hyndford Street, in the Beersbridge Road area, at 2220 BST.

The 26-year-old was sitting in the living room of his house when six shots were fired through the window.

He was struck on the shoulder and side. When the police arrived at the scene, he was conscious and able to talk.

My understanding at this time is that the police are baffled by what has happened

Robin Newton DUP

The injured man was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where his condition is being described as ill but satisfactory.

His neighbour heard the shots but thought they were firecrackers.

"Then I looked out and saw the ambulances and the police coming so I ran out then," she said.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said she saw her neighbour's window broken and called the paramedics over to the house.

"Then I saw him coming limping up the hallway. He was very scared and didn't seem to know where he was."

East Belfast DUP councillor Robin Newton, who visited the scene of the attack, said it had generated a "lot of fear in the community".

"My understanding at this time is that the police are baffled by what has happened," he said.