Image copyright PSNI

The shootings of two men in Londonderry were an attempt to "control communities through fear and violence", the PSNI has said.

The men were shot in separate incidents in the Ballymagroarty area of Londonderry on Friday evening.

The shootings happened within 10 minutes of each other and less than 100 metres apart.

Both men were taken to hospital for treatment.

In the first attack, a 24-year-old man was shot in the knee on a grassed area close to Corrib Court.

The incident was reported to police at about 20.10 GMT.

'Scars'

The second shooting was reported just after 20.20 GMT.

A 32-year-old man was shot once in the leg on a grassed area near O'Casey Court.

"We are treating both incidents as paramilitary-style attacks; attacks that were brutal and vicious and will leave these two men with both physical and psychological scars," Det Sgt Michelle Boyd said.

"These attacks are yet again more examples of how criminal groups seek to control communities through fear and violence."

The Western Trust said both men were in a stable condition at Altnagelvin hospital in the city.

Condemnation

Sinn Féin councillor Eric McGinley condemned the incident.

"There can be no place for the use of guns or gangs of masked men on the streets of our city," he said.

"All of this is in stark contrast to the good work that is going on in this community."</s>The peak body for arts and culture in the Goldfields has ramped up its annual membership drive for 2019 and has introduced a new individual membership.

Artgold is calling for new and returning members to sign up to the not-for-profit organisation to help better connect arts and culture providers with relevant audiences.

The new individual membership, which costs $20, is for people who may not be part of a wider organisation that runs arts and culture activities or events, but someone who engages in them regularly.

Artgold co-ordinator Ursula Andinach said the membership packages had been remodelled this year because the previous options were all directed at businesses.

She said the group had 65 paid memberships last year, and already had 20 this year.

“That is quite promising I think,” she said. “We thought the individual membership would be good because the thing that happened with the membership prior is the arts and culture organisations were joining but when we had events with members they were all people who knew each other and were already in the arts.

“This gives us a way of helping people who are interested in arts but not necessarily working in arts, or the same with culture, a way to support Artgold and interact with the people and events they might be interested in attending or getting involved with.”

Individual member benefits include an automatic sign-up to the Artgold newsletter, half-price photocopying costs, priority and discounts to Artgold hosted events, and entries to monthly prize draws sponsored by local businesses and organisations.

Business memberships are $50 for not-for-profit or community groups, and $80 for commercial businesses. The benefits include all of the individual benefits as well as one free use of a marquee, priority event promotion with reviews or content in a number of publications and social media pages, radio promotion and grant support and information.

There will be another round of memberships taken in June for the financial year.

For more information, phone Ursula on 0437 642 009 or email admin@artgold.net.au.
Two people were shot and injured in two individual attacks in Londonderry.