An off-duty police officer shot in a terrifying attack in which masked men continued to fire as he attempted to flee, has been named as Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell.
The senior officer was shot multiple times in front of young people - including his son - after coaching a youth football team at a sports centre in Omagh, County Tyrone, in Northern Ireland.
He underwent surgery overnight and remained in a critical condition.
Police have arrested three men in their investigation into the attempted murder, Chief Constable Simon Byrne said in a press conference this morning.
M Byrne said: "This morning we have arrested three men aged 38, 45, and 47, in Omagh and Coalisland in connection with John's attempted murder.
"They're currently being questioned by detectives at Musgrave serious crime suite."
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Dissident republican group the New IRA is the primary focus of detectives investigating the shooting, police said.
Wounded officer Mr Caldwell is a well-known officer who has led investigations into murders, organized crime and the dissident paramilitary campaign.
The injured officer was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital around 8pm. Northern Ireland's chief constable Simon Byrne said he was in a 'critical but stable' condition.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said: “John sustained a number of bullet wounds to his torso and was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries".
The gunmen are believed to have fled across the Irish border following the attack, prompting Irish police to "intensify patrolling" in border counties.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have launched an attempted murder investigation.
Police are appealing for information about a 'small dark car' found burned out near the scene of the shooting, which they believe to have been a getaway vehicle.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan told BBC Radio Ulster the investigation is at an early stage and that police believe the gunmen made off in a small dark car which was later found burned out just outside Omagh.
"I would appeal for anyone with any information about those involved, about the vehicle, or anything else you think may be of use to the inquiry, no matter how small, please come forward to police," he said.
Images from nearby Drumnakilly this morning showed a police cordon near a property on Racolpa Road, where the vehicle was believed to have been found.
Speaking about the shooting of the off-duty officer earlier this morning, Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan told BBC Radio Ulster: “If I may just express my own and our shock and outrage at this disgusting attack against a police officer in a crowded space in front of parents and children.
“We are closely engaged with and supporting the family, and in consultation with the family I can at this stage confirm the officer is Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell – a highly respected senior investigating officer who’d be familiar to many of you.
“John is someone who dedicated himself to service, both as an SIO (senior investigative officer) in supporting victims and families in bringing others to justice and as an active member of the community, as has been described this morning.”
Mr McEwan said the attack happened while Mr Caldwell was putting footballs into the boot of his car, accompanied by his young son.
"Two gunmen approached and we believe both have fired multiple shots," he said.
“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.”
Mr McEwan said the investigation is at an early stage and that police believe the gunmen made off in a small dark car which was later found burned out just outside Omagh.
“I would appeal for anyone with any information about those involved, about the vehicle, or anything else you think may be of use to the inquiry, no matter how small, please come forward to police,” he urged.
The principal of Omagh High School, whose students were at the scene where an off-duty police officer was shot, has said that violence must be “pushed away from our community”.
“I can only imagine how difficult it must be for the youngsters this morning, waking up in the aftershock of what they experienced last night,” Christos Gaitatzis told BBC Radio Ulster.
“I feel that those people affected here last night were my children, were my family. We really need to get together as a community in order to make sure that these types of instances, that contain violence in the most heinous way I can describe, have to be pushed away from our community.
“(We have to) make sure that those individuals are caught and isolated out of our community to make sure that Omagh remains the town that it always has been – a town that is together, is coming together at all times, especially during difficult circumstances like this.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was "appalled" by the "disgraceful" shooting of the off-duty cop.
"My thoughts are with the officer and his family. There is no place in our society for those who seek to harm public servants protecting communities," he said.
