People in Bushmills have been “left in shock” following a serious assault in which a man was left nailed to a fence, an assembly member has said.

A man was taken to hospital following the incident in a car park in the County Antrim town in the early hours of Sunday.

The man in his 20s was found with a nail through each hand at a fence.

Alliance MLA Sian Mullholland described the attack as “absolutely uncalled for and unjustifiable”.

She said that there was “no place for vigilantism”, adding this was “something that shouldn’t be happening in 2024 in our society”.

Police said paramilitary involvement was one key line of inquiry.

“If people do have concerns, the police and the justice system as the only route that we have to follow, otherwise we’re in the wild west,” Ms Mulholland told BBC News NI’s Good Morning Ulster programme.

She added the “ripple effects” of the “barbaric” attack would be felt beyond the victim, by the community in Bushmills, the emergency services who responded to the incident, and tourists staying in campervans in the car park during the attack.

Two vans, one belonging to the injured man, were found on fire in the car park near Dundarave Park.

Graffiti on nearby public toilets has been linked to the assault and arson.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the man was left with potentially life-changing but not life-threatening injuries.

Speaking to BBC News NI on Sunday afternoon, Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said it was a “really shocking incident with levels of, almost, ultra violence”.

DUP MLA Paul Frew said: “This criminal and violent behaviour cannot be tolerated in a peaceful community and has to be condemned.”

UUP leader Doug Beattie described the incident as “a shocking and depraved assault”.

TUV leader Jim Allister expressed his “dismay at the gruesome and cruel attack carried out in the village”.