John Caldwell: Two arrested in connection with attempted murder police of retired Chief Inspector

The pair were detained under the Terrorism Act and have are now in police custody – Mr Caldwell retired from the PSNI on medical grounds in December 2024

Detectives investigating the attempted murder of PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh, Co Tyrone, in February 2023 have made two arrests, with two men detained under the Terrorism Act.

The men – aged 37 and 73 – were arrested in the Ardboe area on Tuesday, November 18. A PSNI statement said the duo “have been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning”.

The now-retired officer was shot in front of his son and seriously injured in a dissident gun attack at a sports complex in Omagh in February 2023.

Police have previously said the attack was carried out by a joint enterprise between dissident republicans and an organised crime group.

In February 2023, Mr Caldwell was shot several times while he was off duty and with his young son, packing up after coaching a youth football team.

The attack was later claimed by the New IRA.

Several people have previously appeared in court charged with offences linked to the shooting attack.

Mr Caldwell retired from the PSNI last December on medical grounds. He was awarded the King’s Police Medal in November of last year.

Mr Caldwell said of receiving the honour: “I’m feeling very happy, feel very privileged, feel very honoured to be firstly nominated and then to receive such a very nice medal from the King.”

“I’ve been impacted, obviously, the attack upon me: I was shot nine times. I’m still recovering from those injuries.

“But the recovery is going very well. That’s thanks to the medical teams and thanks to the support from family and friends and from my wife and my son.”