A fourth man has been arrested following the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in County Tyrone on Wednesday. 

Detective Caldwell was shot multiple times in front of his son while coaching an underage football team at a sports complex between Omagh and Killyclogher. 

His condition is described as stable but he has sustained life changing injuries. 

On Thursday, three men aged 38, 45 and 47 were arrested under the Terrorism Act in Omagh and Coalisland. 

Early on Friday morning, a fourth man, aged 22, was arrested in the Coalisland area. 

All individuals remain in police custody. 

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said the force is investigating whether the New IRA were involved in the incident. 

'Horrific act'

Speaking to Newstalk, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the attack represented a “new low”. 

“The attack was depraved and shocking and I would call on anybody who has any information in respect of the criminals who carried out this attack to give that information to the police,” he said.

“There have been a number of attempted attacks now on police over the last number of months and last evening it reached an appalling level in terms of this gun attack at a sports centre where there were many, many young people enjoying the daily routine of sport.

“For them to witness such a horrific act is, in itself, very traumatic and also that the attempted murder happened in front of his son, I think, represents a new low in such criminal activity.”

‘The fact the attempted murder happened in front of his son represents a new low.’

The Tánaiste has condemned the “absolutely depraved and shocking” attack on DCI John Caldwell on Omagh. pic.twitter.com/Q0sDRSvaK2

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) February 23, 2023

Fifteen pupils from Omagh High School witnessed the attack and Principal Christos Gaitatzis said they were extremely shocked by what had happened. 

“Some of them did not make it to school today, they felt that they were unable to deal with the intensity of the shock last night,” Mr Gaitatzis told Newstalk's Barry Whyte.

"The pupils that made it here today, there's eight of them, some of them are very, very shocked.

"Some of them are very worried about the health of their coach, John.

"Some of them are feeling really a lot of pressure; and we've spoken to them all individually.

"They all manifest the shock of last night in a different way, so we are really trying to support them through the needs that they have today.” 

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell. 

Former First Minister of Northern Ireland Arlene Foster, whose own father was shot in front of her during the Troubles, said she was praying for Detective Caldwell. 

“This will be a long road,” she tweeted. 

“Unfortunately this is not the first time a police officer was shot in front of their child. 

“Witnessing your father being shot stays with you.”

Main image: PSNI at the crime scene. Picture by: Alamy.com