Omagh shooting: Police confirm shooting of off-duty detective being treated as ‘terrorist-related’

Three men have been arrested in Omagh and Coalisland, County Tyrone, in connection with the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed.

Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: “This morning we have arrested three men aged 38, 45, and 47, in Omagh and Coalisland in connection with John’s attempted murder.

“They’re currently being questioned by detectives at Musgrave serious crime suite.”

Chief Constable Simon Byrne said Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell remains in a critical condition.

The PSNI head told reporters: “Clearly as an organisation, we are utterly shocked and angered by last night’s brazen and calculated attack.

“John is a father, husband and colleague, and a valued and active member of his local community.”

He said Mr Caldwell has been a valued police officer for 26 years “committed to public service as a senior investigating officer supporting victims and their families in bringing offenders to justice”.

He added: “John is held in the highest esteem within our organisation. He is a credit to his family and to the police service.

“And of course our thoughts are with John and his family as he fights for his life in hospital today.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said the dissident republican group the New IRA was the primary focus of the police investigation.

He said: “The two gunmen, who were dressed in dark clothing, carried out this cowardly attack and left the scene on foot. At least two other vehicles were struck by their volley of shots.

“We believe the gunmen fled the scene in a small, dark-coloured vehicle shortly after 8pm. We believe this vehicle was abandoned and set on fire in Racolpa Road, Omagh.

“We want to hear from anyone who was in the area or who witnessed what happened to get in touch with any information that could help with our investigation.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said there were “many other young people, children” waiting to be picked up by their parents when the attack on John Caldwell took place.

“And those children ran for cover in sheer terror towards the centre,” he told reporters.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he understands Mr Caldwell remains “very seriously ill”, adding he is hoping and praying he will be able to recover.

He denied that the current political vacuum at Stormont could be connected to the attack.

“I believe that this was a carefully targeted attack and we’ve seen that in recent times from dissident republicans in particular, and I think the clear message that we’ve sought to send out as political leaders is that there is unity amongst us in not only our condemnation, but our support for the police,” he told reporters at Stormont.

“I have already engaged with the Government on the need to ensure that the police have the resources they need, whether that’s in recruitment of additional officers or indeed other practical support that is required to ensure that the terrorists don’t have their way.”

Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a fourth person in connection with the attempted murder of an Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell.

In a statement, PSNI said a 22-year-old man was arrested early on Friday morning in the Coalisland area.

The force said the arrest was made under the Terrorism Act and the man is currently being questioned by detectives in Musgrave serious crime suite.

It comes after PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne told a press conference in Belfast on Thursday that three men had been arrested in connection with the attempted murder of Mr Caldwell.

The attempted murder of an off-duty detective is a grim reminder of the violence that plagued Northern Ireland for decades. Although times have changed, in recent years there have still been murders and attempted murders.

The New IRA has been blamed for the killing of journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry in 2019.

Last November, the group was also thought to be behind the attempted murder of two police officers in a bomb attack in Strabane, Co Tyrone.

Omagh has seen significant dissident violence in the past, including a Real IRA bomb attack in 1998 which killed 29 people – one of whom was a woman pregnant with twins.

It was also where Constable Ronan Kerr was murdered in April 2011.

The terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland was lowered from severe to substantial for the first time in 12 years last March.

Police in Northern Ireland have confirmed they are treating the shooting of an off-duty police officer in Co Tyrone as terrorist-related, and their primary line of inquiry is the New IRA.

A fifth arrest has been made following the shooting of an off-duty police officer in Omagh.

A 43-year-old man was arrested in the Stewartstown area under the Terrorism Act and is currently being questioned by detectives.

It comes after four other men, aged 22, 38, 45 and 47, were arrested in connection with the shooting. The suspects remain in custody.