Man shot dead by masked intruders

The victim was shot in a house in the Woodland area of Prehen

A man has been shot dead in Londonderry.

Two masked gunmen entered a house in the Woodland area of Prehen at about 0015 on Wednesday and fired a number of shots.

The 38-year-old victim was taken to Altnagelvin hospital where he later died from his injuries. His name has not yet been released.

The area has been cordoned off. Police said they believed the attackers drove off in the direction of the city.

A neighbour of the dead man said he was shocked by the shooting.

"I was awakened this morning around about 2.00 by the police and they told me then that the man had been shot," he said.

"I haven't really slept since, to be honest it's just unbelievable, it's a really, really quiet neighbourhood, you just don't expect that."

The murder has been condemned by the Mayor of Derry, Councillor Gerard Diver.

"It certainly looks like a particularly grotesque and brutal shooting by masked men, something that harks back to the worst days of the Troubles," he said.

"My reaction is one of complete horror, people will be shocked to the core about this."

The house where the shooting took place is on the main Derry to Strabane Road.