Children unharmed after shots fired through window

Occupants of a house in north Belfast, including young children, have escaped injury after shots were fired through a window.

A number of shots were reported to have been fired at a house on Ainsworth Street at about 19:45 GMT on Saturday night.

Those present inside the property at the time, including children, were not harmed but damage was caused.

Police said they are treating this incident, as well as another shooting at a home on Woodvale Avenue on Friday, as linked and with the "utmost seriousness".

"This is the second night in a row that shots have been fired at an occupied residential property in the area," Det Insp McAnee said.

"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."

At the scene: BBC News NI reporter Catherine Morrison

Part of the street has been cordoned off and there is an active police presence here.

Detectives are making door to door inquiries and officers are searching the street for evidence.

A Santa figure stands in the window which has been damaged by multiple bullets.

The street is only a couple of streets away from Woodvale Avenue, the scene of Friday night's shooting.

Councillor Ron McDowell, who grew up in the area, said: "But for the grace of God, we could be mourning the death of a child this morning."

The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) councillor added: "This is the second attack in a number of days and it must be unequivocally condemned by everyone.

"There should be no place in our community for those who have the means and intent to bring guns onto our streets."

He appealed to the public to give the police their full cooperation.

There will be a higher police presence in the area in the coming days as enquiries continue.

Police asked those with information or footage of the attack to contact them.