A man is in “a critical but stable condition” after a shooting in west Belfast on Sunday, police have said.

Police received a report that two masked men approached a taxi, which was parked in the area, and fired shots through the window, striking the driver.

It happened at about 10:30 GMT in the Bell Steel Manor area of Dunmurry.

The Bell Steel Road, close to the junction of Laurelbank, remains closed.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) despatched a rapid response paramedic and an emergency ambulance crew to the incident.

Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken by ambulance to Royal Victoria Hospital, NIAS said.

SDLP councillor Paul Doherty described the incident as a “disgraceful act of violence”.

“There is no place for this kind of violence on our streets and the use of a firearm in this attack is also very concerning,” he said.

“I would urge people to avoid this area while police carry out their investigation and to come forward to police with any information so those behind this shooting can be apprehended and this weapon seized before causing harm to anyone else.”

Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker condemned the “reckless attack”, adding there is “no justification” for guns on the streets.

“This is an extremely busy area in our community, with many local families and children passing through to visit shops, attend sports training and go about their daily lives,” he said.

“I want to extend my best wishes to the man who has been taken to hospital, and I hope that he fully recovers.

“The community is deeply worried,” Mr Baker said.

“There are a lot of children going to training, and they’re going to come out and see this, its not nice.

“Our community does not want this,” he added.

In a statement, People Before Profit councillor Michael Collins said he was “shocked and angered to hear of the shooting of a west Belfast taxi driver”.

“There is no support for this kind of violence from any section of the community,” he said.

“These kind of actions destroy families and only serve to drag working-class communities backwards.

“I wish the man who was the victim of this heinous attack a speedy recovery and unreservedly condemn this senseless act of violence.”