The man in his 20s was found nailed to a fence, with a nail through each hand, shortly after midnight.
Two vans, one belonging to the injured man, were found on fire in the car park near Dundarave Park.
Police said paramilitary involvement was one key line of inquiry.
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.
Police said it was a “sinister attack.”
The article doesn’t explicitly state it but it’s obvious from that fence and the nails through the hands that this was a literal crucifixion. Which sounds like something that should be said out loud instead of dodged.