Northern Ireland: Three men have been arrested in connection with the attempted shooting of police officer DCI Caldwell while he was off duty in Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He was shot multiple times in front of youths training at a sports center in Omagh, County Tyrone, just before 8pm on Wednesday night.
Police say the New IRA, a dissident republican group, is the "primary focus" of the force's investigation.
Who is the New IRA?
The New IRA - also known as the New Irish Republican Army - is a small militant nationalist group. The group, founded in 2012, opposes Britain's rule in the region, including the 1998 Good Friday Agreement peace accord that ended three decades of sectarian violence in the country. Police officers are still occasionally targeted by mainly Irish nationalist splinter groups, with the last shooting taking place in Northern Ireland in 2017. The New IRA has previously carried out attacks including car bombings. In June 2019, the New IRA claimed responsibility for a deadly bomb found under a police officer's car at a golf club in east Belfast.
Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said the attack happened as DCI Caldwell was loading a football into the boot of his car. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, ACC McEwan said the officer ran a short distance after the first shot was fired and when he fell to the floor the assailants opened fire. Many other youngsters, children, are waiting to be picked up by their parents. Those children ran in panic to the centre," ACC McEwan added. DCI Caldwell's young son was also present, he said: "The impact on this child is horrific and he will never forget being shot multiple times by his father.
"The gunmen fired from a crowded sports training area, which could have easily killed or seriously injured the children who were present at the time of the shooting." DCI Caldwell remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital, where he underwent surgery overnight.
He is a senior officer who has led a number of major investigations, including a leading role in the murder investigation into the killing of Natalie McNally in Lurgan in December. Speaking about the shooting, Chief Constable Simon Byrne of the PSNI said: “As an organisation, we are shocked and outraged by the brazen and calculated attack last night.
John is a father, husband, colleague and a valued and active member of his local community. "Caldwell has been a valued police officer for 26 years and is committed to public service as a senior investigating officer supporting victims and their families in bringing criminals to justice," Northern Ireland Police said in a statement.
Following this, Northern Ireland Police today confirmed that three men, aged 38, 45 and 47, were arrested in Omagh and Collisland on Thursday morning in connection with the investigation.
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