Police treat two Coleraine shootings as attempted murder after children caught up in attacks
Monday 05 October 2026
Five people, including three children, were inside a Coleraine home when shots were fired at the property in one of two shootings now being investigated as attempted murder.
A three-year-old child was in bed during the first attack in the Lisnablagh Road area shortly after midnight on Monday, 5 October. No one was injured.
Police were still dealing with that incident when, around 20 minutes later, they received a report of shots being fired at another home in the Silverthorn Avenue area. An adult and a child were inside the second property.
Three children inside first property
Detective Inspector Hanbidge said police received the first report at around 12.10am.
“We received a report at around 12.10am that a number of shots had been fired at a house in the Lisnablagh Road area of the town.
“Five people, including three children, were present in the property when this occurred. While, thankfully, there were no reports of any injuries, a three-year-old child was in bed at the time of the shooting and they, along with the other children and adults present in the house, could have been seriously injured as a result of this attack.
“Officers subsequently attended the scene and conducted a search of the area. While dealing with the first shooting, we then received a further report at around 12.30am that shots had also been fired at a property in the Silverthorn Avenue area of Coleraine.”
Adult and child in second house
Police said two people were inside the Silverthorn Avenue property when the second shooting occurred.
Detective Inspector Hanbidge said:
“Two people were in the house at the time – an adult and a child. Again, thankfully no injuries were reported, however, this could also have ended very differently.
“Our enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the two shootings, which we’re treating as attempted murder.”
Police appeal for footage and witnesses
Detectives want to hear from anyone who was in either area around the time of the shootings, particularly those who may have captured relevant footage.
“We would appeal to anyone who was in the Lisnablagh Road or Silverthorn Avenue areas just before midnight on Sunday night or up to 12.30am on Monday morning, and has any information to contact police using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals, quoting reference 9 of 05/10/26.
“We’re keen to speak with anyone who might have seen anything suspicious in these areas, or who might have any information which could assist with our investigations – including ring-doorbell, dash-cam, CCTV or other footage.”
Information can also be provided to police by calling 101 and quoting reference 9 of 05/10/26. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
Police enquiries into both shootings are continuing.
