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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Damien Edgar

New IRA's "disgusting and vile" Omagh shooting claim condemned

The New IRA's claim of responsibility for the shooting of DCI John Caldwell has been slammed as "sick and revolting" by the Police Federation Chair Liam Kelly.

The dissident terrorist republican grouping said it had carried out the attack that has left the senior police officer critically ill.

"The content of the New IRA's claim is disgusting and vile," said Liam Kelly.

Read more: John Caldwell shooting: 'IRA' claim responsibility for attempting to murder PSNI officer

"They're saying with pride that they tried to murder my colleague and that's just simply sick and revolting.

"These cowards are bereft of any trace of humanity."

The sinister New IRA statement warned members of the security forces that the terror gang have gathered data on officers and that further attacks against security forces may be in the planning.

It described the cold-blooded murder bid while children looked on as a "military operation" with "all volunteers returned to base".

The statement added: "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."

PFNI Chair Liam Kelly said the lack of any remorse in the message showed level of threat those involved were capable of.

"They think that by targeting our officers they're advancing their warped agenda when the reality is they're achieving absolutely nothing," he added.

"Collectively as a civic society, we have to do all that we can to rid ourselves of these dangerous and delusional gangs of thugs.

"What we have to do now is encourage as many people as possible to help and support the rule of law, to help the PSNI to tack down the attackers and bring them before the courts.

"In doing so, with that commitment, we will rid our society of the cancer of dissident terrorism and gangsterism."

Six men have been arrested so far by detectives investigating the brutal murder bid against DCI Caldwell.

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