New IRA investigated after detective shot in front of his son at Omagh football pitch

The senior police officer shot in front of his son in Omagh has been named as Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell after police said the "primary focus" of the investigation was on the New IRA.

Mr Caldwell remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital following the attack at a sports complex in Omagh, in Co Tyrone, on Wednesday evening.

He was shot a number of times at the facility by masked men in front of his son.

Detectives said Mr Caldwell had been putting footballs in the boot of his car when two gunmen approached and fired "multiple shots".

He tried to flee but fell to the ground where the gunmen continued to shoot at him. A "brave" member of the public was praised by police for rushing in and providing first aid after the attack.

Mr Caldwell is a high-profile officer who has led a number of major investigations, including taking a leading role in the murder case following the killing of Natalie McNally in Lurgan in December.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan told BBC Radio Ulster: "Last night at approximately 8 o'clock at the youth sports centre in Killyclogher Road, Omagh, whilst John was putting footballs into the boot of his car, and accompanied by his young son, two gunmen approached and we believe both have fired multiple shots.

"John has ran a short distance and he's fallen to the ground, and as he's on the ground the gunmen have continued to fire at him.

"That shows the absolute callous nature of this attack in a crowded space where there are children and parents in the vicinity, and we saw many of those young people and children running in sheer terror to get to safety.

"At least two other vehicles have been struck, and again this highlights the callous and reckless nature of this attack."

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have launched an attempted murder investigation.

ACC McEwan said the "primary focus" on the investigation was on "violent dissident republicans".

He said: "The investigation is at an early stage, we are keeping an open mind. There are multiple strands to that investigation.

"The primary focus is on violent dissident republicans and within that there is a primary focus as well on New IRA."

Baroness Nuala O'Loan, former police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, said she had hoped “things like this were in the past”.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: “For the young people who witnessed it for the coaches, their parents ,all those kinds of people, it's a really really traumatic experience.

“We had hoped we saw these things in the past, we had hoped they would never happen again and we know the children, the young people they’ll carry the scar with them, it's not something they will ever forget.”

She added: “There's a serenity to Omagh its a beautiful place and it's awful to think of that serenity being so shattered again by such an awful crime.”

Temporary detective chief superintendent Eamonn Corrigan said: "Our investigation is now underway and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and witnessed what happened or could help with our enquiries to make contact with police on 101."

Irish police have intensified patrols amid suspicions the gunmen may have fled across the border.

Police believe they made off in a small, dark car, which was found burnt out at Racolpa Road, outside Omagh.

Pupils from Omagh High School were at the sports complex at the time of the shooting.

Principal Christos Gaitatzis said he was "sickened to the stomach" by the news.

He said the children had been "numb" on Wednesday night and it was very hard for them to comprehend what had happened.

Northern Ireland's political leaders issued a joint statement condemning the shooting.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Alliance leader Naomi Long, UUP leader Doug Beattie and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said they stand united in outright condemnation of the attack.

"We speak for the overwhelming majority of people right across our community who are outraged and sickened by this reprehensible and callous attempted murder," they said.

"The community of Omagh has endured profound suffering, loss, and pain in the past which has left a deep trauma, and so this act of violence has left people there rightly angered".

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the "disgraceful shooting of an off-duty police officer in Omagh".

Irish premier Leo Varadkar condemned the "grotesque act of attempted murder".

A statement from Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he was "shocked and saddened" by the incident and vowed the force would "relentlessly pursue those responsible".

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris condemned the shooting, adding: "Those responsible for such horror must be brought to justice."

The New IRA was previously blamed for the killing of journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry in 2019.

Last November, the group was 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, including 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.