Sixth arrest in Omagh probe into the attempted murder of PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell

By The Newsroom
Published 26th Feb 2023, 08:36 BST
Updated 26th Feb 2023, 08:46 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
Police investigating the attempted murder of a senior officer in Omagh have made a sixth arrest.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell remains critically ill after the attack in Co Tyrone on Wednesday night in which he was shot in front of his young son.

He was targeted at a sports centre where he coaches a youth football team and police believe the two gunmen involved fired multiple shots.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said on Saturday night that they have arrested a 71-year-old man in Omagh under the Terrorism Act.

Forensic officers at the scene near the sports complex in the Killyclogher Road area of Omagh, Co Tyrone late last week, after off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot a number of times by masked men in front of young people he had been coaching. Mr Caldwell remains in a critical condition in hospital. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA WireForensic officers at the scene near the sports complex in the Killyclogher Road area of Omagh, Co Tyrone late last week, after off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot a number of times by masked men in front of young people he had been coaching. Mr Caldwell remains in a critical condition in hospital. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Forensic officers at the scene near the sports complex in the Killyclogher Road area of Omagh, Co Tyrone late last week, after off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot a number of times by masked men in front of young people he had been coaching. Mr Caldwell remains in a critical condition in hospital. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The man, the sixth to be arrested in the investigation, will be questioned by detectives at Musgrave Serious Crime Suite.

Five other men – aged 22, 38, 43, 45 and 47 – also arrested in connection with the attempted murder remain in custody.

Earlier on Saturday, the PSNI said they had been granted more time to question four of the men.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A PSNI spokesperson said a court in Belfast had granted an extension to the detention of four male suspects, aged 22, 38, 45 and 47, until 10pm on Tuesday February 28.

Police have said dissident republican group the New IRA is their primary line of inquiry.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered to demand an end to paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland.

The main street of Omagh was brought to a standstill on Saturday as crowds assembled in front of the courthouse for a rally in solidarity with Mr Caldwell.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Standing a short distance from where a 1998 dissident republican bomb killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, they held posters saying: "No going back."

Earlier, Beragh Swifts, the football club at which Mr Caldwell is a volunteer coach, led a solidarity walk through the village of Beragh on the outskirts of Omagh.

Related topics:OmaghPSNIIRABelfastPolice