Det Ch Insp John Caldwell was shot by the New IRA on Wednesday in Omagh, it has been confirmed. This was stated in a statement that was typed and posted on a wall in Londonderry on Sunday night. The New IRA, a dissident republican organization, had been the primary suspect in the investigation.
At a sports complex, two assailants shot the 48-year-old many times in front of his small kid. Mr Caldwell remains severely unwell in hospital. Six persons remain in police custody for questioning. The youngest is 22 and the oldest is aged 71.
Dissident republicans oppose the 1998 Good Friday Agreement peace settlement and continue to use violence to attempt to reconcile Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland. The New IRA statement was typed on paper, then affixed to a wall next to some stores in the Creggan area.
On Monday ( 27 feb 2023) morning, a forensic team arrived at the scene and took it away for additional investigation. Given what the police had already said, the New IRA’s admission was not shocking, but the way they did it was odd. It typically accuses the Irish News newspaper of being the target of attacks.
Additionally, it was done when police were holding the accused. This is understood to be a sign that the group felt empowered by the assault on Det Ch Insp Caldwell. Also, it seems to be attempting to increase officers’ security fears by using the statement.
The attack indicates a rise in New IRA activities, which has alarmed the Northern Ireland Police Service. Police were aware of the claim of culpability, according to Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan. As part of the larger investigation, he stated “We are currently reviewing its contents as part of the overall investigation.”
“On Friday we confirmed that we were treating the attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell as terrorist-related and our primary line of enquiry was the New IRA.” One of the most well-known detectives in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Det Ch Insp Caldwell frequently led press conferences on significant investigations during the course of his 26-year career.
You may also be interested in reading our other reports on recent shootings:
- Strawberry Mansion Shooting Injured A 2-year-old Girl, 5 Teenagers, And A Lady.
- 2 Shot Dead, 3 Injured at St. Paul Senior Living Centre Celebration of Life.
At around 20:00 GMT on Wednesday (22 Feb 2023) , the assailants approached and shot the football coach while he was leading a practice session for the Beragh Swifts club at Youth Sport Omagh. When bullets broke out in the parking lot, kids fled in horror. They opened fire, hitting at least two additional vehicles.
Officers think the shooters ran from the area before escaping in a small, dark car that was later discovered burned out on Racolpa Road, just outside of Omagh. More than a thousand people attended a rally in Omagh on Saturday to support Det Ch Insp Caldwell.
A solidarity walk was also held in the village of Beragh. Police have reported that the security alert that had been in effect on Beragh’s Dervaghroy Road since Saturday has been lifted. All roads have subsequently been reopened, according to reports that many airsoft guns, which are replicas that fire plastic pellets, were found and recovered.
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