Statement ‘from IRA’ claiming responsibility for shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell
Chilling statement ‘from IRA’ claiming responsibility for shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell appears in Londonderry
- Police have been granted more time to question one suspect, a 43-year-old man
- Six men, aged 22, 38, 43, 45, 47 and 71 have all been arrested in recent days
- Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot in Omagh on Wednesday
A chilling statement claiming responsibility for the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell has 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.
DCI John Caldwell was shot in front of his young son in Co Tyrone, Omagh on Wednesday while he was off duty and remains in a critically ill condition. He was targeted at a sports centre where he coaches a youth football team.
The statement comes after police earlier said the New IRA group is their primary line of inquiry, BelfastLive reports.
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.
Detectives have now been granted more time to question one suspect, the 43-year-old man, who was arrested on Friday
Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot in front of his young son in Co Tyrone, Omagh on Wednesday while he was off duty. He remains critically ill
‘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.’
It comes as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) believe the two gunmen involved fired multiple shots, and that the attack was terrorist-related, describing the New IRA as their primary line of inquiry .
Meanwhile, detectives have been granted more time to question a suspect as they investigate the shooting.
A map showing the scene of Mr Caldwell’s shooting
Six men, aged 22, 38, 43, 45, 47 and 71 have been arrested in recent days in the attempted murder investigation.
Detectives have now been granted more time to question one suspect, the 43-year-old man, who was arrested on Friday.
‘A court in Belfast has granted an extension to the detention of the suspect until 10pm on Tuesday, February 28,’ a PSNI spokesperson said.
‘All six arrested men remain in custody in the Serious Crime Suite at Musgrave Police Station.’
Police have asked for the public’s help in the investigation, and have appealed to witnesses or those with information to get in touch by calling 101 or online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.
Information, including photos, CCTV and dashcam footage, can be provided to police through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI23S03-PO1