LAST UPDATE | 26 May 2023
11 PEOPLE HAVE been arrested this morning in relation to the attempted murder of PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, including nine men and two women.
The people being detained are between ages 21 and 72. They have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in Omagh and Coalisland.
There has also been new CCTV footage and photos released of cars used by the gunmen on and before the night in question, which the PSNI hope will help identify those involved.
In a statement, Detective Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan said: “My investigation has progressed and I now believe a black Mercedes Benz C-Class (W204) 4-door saloon (2007/8 – 2014) was used as an operational vehicle by the New IRA both before and immediately after the attack when it was used to transport the gunmen and others away from the site of the burned out Ford Fiesta in Raculpa Road, referred to as Fiesta One.
“I am appealing for information about who was in this black Mercedes vehicle, where it was before the shooting and where it went afterwards. I know it travelled in a convoy on the Drumnakilly Road headed towards Omagh at 5.43pm on the 22nd with the two blue Ford Fiestas before the attack took place.”
Detective Caldwell was shot multiple times at a sports centre in Omagh on 22 February.
He was putting sports equipment into a car with his son after a coaching session when he was attacked.
At least 10 shots were fired by gunmen during the attack.
Detective Caldwell was critically ill for some time following the shooting, and he sustained life-changing injuries.
He was discharged from hospital on 20 April, to allow him to continue his recovery at home.
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said at the time that he had met with Caldwell and his family, and that it was “wonderful to see progress in his condition”.
The PSNI announced the arrests this morning, following on from a major search and arrest operation.
The 11 people arrested have been taken to the Serious Crime Suite in Musgrave where they are currently being questioned.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say