Detectives trying to solve ‘New IRA’ bid to murder police inspector make two more arrests as they hold men aged 33 and 57
- Two men were arrested on Wednesday, while two other men remain in custody
- The two men were arrested under the Terrorism Act and taken for questioning
Detectives investigating the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Northern Ireland have made two further arrests.
The detective is in a critical but stable condition in hospital after he was shot a number of times in front of his young son in Omagh, Co Tyrone, last Wednesday.
A 33-year-old man was arrested in Omagh and a 57-year-old man in Belfast this Wednesday. Both were arrested under the Terrorism Act and taken to Musgrave Crime Suite in Belfast for questioning.
On Tuesday night police said that four men aged 22, 38, 43 and 45 had been released following questioning. Two other men, aged 47 and 71, remain in police custody.
Investigators previously said they were treating the attack as ‘terrorist-related’ and that their primary line of inquiry is the New IRA.
Two more men have been arrested in relation to the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell
The detective is in a critical but stable condition in hospital after he was shot a number of times in front of his young son in Omagh (pictured: car used by gunmen)
A chilling statement claiming responsibility for the shooting of the detective has since been pinned to a wall.
The message, purported to have been left by the IRA, appeared in Londonderry on Sunday night and was signed off by ‘T O’Neill’ – a signature said to be linked to the dissident group.
It reads: ‘An active service unit of the IRA were in position to target the enemy within our chosen kill zone with other volunteers giving cover. All volunteers returned to base safely.
‘Irish Republican Army intelligence are now in possession of security information regarding the out of bounds movement of Crown forces personnel.
‘We would say this, you will still have to try and live normal family life day to day, one of those days the IRA will be waiting.’
In a subsequent tweet DUP MLA Diane Doddsm said: ‘Vile. Utterly vile threats towards those who seek to protect our community in NI. I stand with the PSNI.’
DCI Caldwell had been putting footballs in his car after coaching an under-15s team at Youth Sport Omagh when he was ambushed by the two masked men.
After they fired shots, the father ran a short distance before falling to the ground, where the pair continued to shoot at him as screaming children ran to safety.
The hero detective shouted ‘run’ to his son and children as he was gunned down.
A rally is held in support of off duty Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell who was shot while attending a Beragh Swifts football coaching session with his son
A map showing the scene of Mr Caldwell’s shooting
The football club where the senior police officer was coaching young kids at the time he was shot joined a rally on Saturday to condemn the violence.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Omagh to ‘fight for a better future’ and stand in solidarity with Mr Caldwell.
Among them were children and families from the Beragh Swifts, who marched in a ‘walk of solidarity’ for Mr Caldwell.
Initial reports said several children from the club were in the area at the time of the shooting and fled for cover.
Beragh Swifts chairman Richard Lyons said the community gathered in support of their friend and for all the children affected by the shooting.
‘It’s been a very difficult time for the club; it’s been a very difficult time for the community,’ he said.
‘John worked tirelessly for this club. He’s no different to any other volunteer… the contribution that John gives to this club is phenomenal and this is an unbelievably difficult time for us all.’
Hundreds gathered in Beragh, about eight miles from Omagh, for a walk of solidarity from the Beragh Swifts ground for Mr Caldwell
Club members and supporters taking part in a ‘Walk of Solidarity’ from Beragh Swifts clubhouse in Beragh, Omagh
