NI's Police Ombudsman is today investigating the fatal shooting of a man by an off-duty PSNI officer during a suspected robbery in east Belfast yesterday evening.

The victim was shot and fatally wounded shortly after 7pm by the armed officer at a garage forecourt on the Albertbridge Road.

East Belfast Alliance MP, Naomi Long said: "This is clearly a tragic and traumatic situation for all of those involved and our thoughts are very much with them all at this time.

"It is also very disturbing for people living and working in the wider area.

"The incident and the circumstances surrounding are now subject to both a police investigation and an Ombudsman's probe and so any further speculation or comment regarding the circumstances would be unwise as it could prejudice the outcome of that process.

"I would urge anyone who may have witnessed the incident or the events leading up to it to come forward to the Ombudsman to assist them with their investigation," she said.

The premises - which include an external bank ATM machine to which the staff has no access - are fitted with closed-circuit television cameras that could be central to the investigation.

Officers can only legitimately open fire when his life or the life of a member of the public is in danger, so that the actions of the man who was shot dead will be sharply in focus.

PSNI officers are routinely armed while on duty and also - like the RUC before them - have weapons for their personal protection when off duty.

The dead man was in his 20s, and alleged to have been armed with a knife - and was also said in reports last night to have been repeatedly warned to put the weapon down after threatening a member of staff.

Local DUP MLA and Stormont Junior Minister, Robin Newton revealed a very personal detail - that his own son was left traumatised after being involved in an earlier hold-up.

He said: "This awful shooting incident in the Albertbridge Road petrol filling station is likely to have a traumatic effect on the young staff working in the station.

"Several years ago my son was working in this same filling station and experienced a violent hold-up situation.

"This was a disturbing and troubling experience for him, which took some time to get over," he revealed.

"However, this much more serious shooting (and) fatality will be an even greater challenge to the mental well-being of the employees.

"This distressing incident is unfortunately a worrying trend in the east of the city and is the most serious violent incident of many that have occurred in recent weeks.

"The employees and the management of the business will need support to get through this very serious incident."

Investigators from the Police Ombudsman's office were quickly at the scene last night as the official watchdog automatically investigates every time a PSNI officer discharges a weapon.

Former Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Jim Rodgers, who is Chairman of the East Belfast District Policing Partnership, said there had been a spate of robberies in the area in recent times.

"My thoughts are with the family of this man who has lost his life," he said.

"There have been a spate of robberies in east Belfast in the last few weeks with large amounts of money being taken.

"Many businesses are closing at this time and some of those concerned have been robbed several times," the councillor said after he had met with senior police officers in relation to the ongoing robberies.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey, who sits on the NI Policing Board, said he was also in contact with police over the shooting.

"This is obviously an issue of the utmost seriousness and one which must be investigated fully by the Police Ombudsman's Office."

Local Sinn Fein representative for the area Niall O Donnghaile added: "Regardless of the circumstances surrounding this incident we are dealing with a fatality; our thoughts are with the family of the man who has been shot.

"While there has been an increase in robberies in south and east Belfast over recent weeks it is vital that tonight's incident is investigated fully and that all information comes to light."

The Ulster Unionist Party's Michael Copeland said residents were concerned over the incident, and another Assembly member for the area, Dawn Purvis called for a full investigation, and added: "While the details of this incident are not yet clear, the one thing we can be sure of is that there are several families suffering with the ramifications of this shooting. I regret deeply the loss of life and my thoughts go to the families at the heart of this incident."

(BMcC/GK)