Image source, Pacemaker

That brings an end to our coverage today - here's a recap on today's developments:

• Det Ch Insp John Caldwell is in a critical condition after being shot multiple times outside a sports complex while off-duty last night
• He was shot in front of his son after a football coaching session at a sports complex in Omagh, County Tyrone

• Three men - aged 38, 45 and 47 - have been arrested in connection with the incident, and police said their "primary focus" was on dissident republicans and the New IRA

• A source at the scene said Det Ch Insp Calwell warned children to run away after he had been shot, with up to 200 people at the complex at the time

• In a media briefing, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said the "brazen" attack sent shockwaves through the force
• Political leaders across the divide have condemned the attack - DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson called it an "evil deed" and welcomed a joint statement from all Stormont party leaders denouncing the shooting
• While Sinn Féin’s deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said leaders in Northern Ireland were “absolutely at one" in thinking such incidents "represent an attack on the peace process"

That may be the end of our minute-to-minute coverage but there's plenty more on this story on the BBC News NI website - read more on the main story here; go here for a profile of who the victim was; and here's a look at why police officers Northern Ireland can still find themselves targeted for attacks.

Today's updates were brought to you by Conor Neeson, Ross McKee, Matt Fox, Paul Lawlor, Clodagh Warnock, Jess Lawrence, Marita Moloney, Emily McGarvey, James Kelly, Amy Stewart, Chris Andrews and Ciaran McCauley.

Thanks for joining us.

Julian O'Neill
BBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent

We're not yet 24 hours into this investigation but, as far as the police are concerned, the only line of inquiry being examined is that John Caldwell was targeted by the dissident republican group the New IRA.

It is understood that Caldwell faced a number of threats over recent years.

He continued to carry out his activities in Omagh as a football coach and whether that was a pattern that aided the targeting of him is of course a matter for the investigation and the fullness of time.

About a year ago, on the advice of MI5, the security threat level from dissident groups was downgraded for the first time in over a decade.

While the threat level is assessed over a period of time rather than in reaction to one event, the narrative that accompanied the downgrade last year was one of triumph by the security services who had succeeded in hampering the activities of dissident groups.

Undoubtedly, Wednesday's attack will pose questions for security services about whether their guard was dropped and whether there was a reduction in intelligence gathering after the security threat was lowered.

Richard Scott, from Military and Police Support West Tyrone, knows John Caldwell well as a colleague and friend.

"He is a hard working, dedicated officer - he's a true community detective," he tells BBC Newsline.

He says his phone has been ringing non-stop and people have been coming to his office all day.

"West Tyrone is no stranger to incidents like this. There have been many colleagues murdered and injured and this has re-traumatised so many people who are having flashbacks of their own incidents and they're coming to us for help," he says.

He appeals to any officer suffering from the trauma of their own experience to come to the organisation for help.

Niall McCracken
BBC News NI

Ray and Geraldine Wilson both live in Omagh and say they're disgusted by the events of last night.

“I thought we had moved on from this, there is no justification for this type of thing at all," Ray says.

“And for his son to be there to witness that, I’m almost speechless.”

His wife Geraldine says she also finds it hard to put into words.

“All I can say is that it’s a disgrace, we’ve had enough tragedy in this country down the years, especially Omagh, we don’t need anymore.

“Nobody wants this.”

Image source, Pacemaker

A source at the scene tells BBC's Ireland Correspondent Emma Vardy that Det Ch Insp John Caldwell got up after being shot and warned children to run away.

He also warned other people at the sports complex of the danger.

Caldwell was shot multiple times in the attack, which happened while he was standing at his car with his son.

Earlier, an eyewitness said there were scenes of panic after the attack, with about 200 people in the area at the time.

Earlier, the leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt told Parliament that Det Ch Insp John Caldwell and the “whole community are very much in our thoughts today”.

“This has been a shocking attack. I am sure the whole house will want to send their good wishes and hope he makes a full and swift recovery."

She was responding to Alliance's North Down MP Stephen Farry, who said Caldwell had “been brutally shot by cowardly masked men while coaching u-15s football”.

“I am certain that the leader would wish to join with me in expressing the hope that the officer will recover and also in terms of expressing solidarity with the brave officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the wider police family as they uphold the rule of law and protect the wider community in Northern Ireland in the face of the ongoing terrorist attack."

Image source, PA Media

Former First Minister Baroness Arlene Foster says the attack on John Caldwell outside a sports complex last night showed "a callous disregard for the safety of young people".

Foster, who led the DUP from 2015 until 2021, says it was "the lowest of the low" to hear that young people, including Caldwell's son, were around when the PSNI detective was shot last night.

"It is a throwback to days we all thought had gone," she told BBC Radio Ulster, adding it "almost took my breath away" that it happened near her home.

"Police families across Northern Ireland would have felt it sorely on hearing the details this morning because John's son is not the first child who would have witnessed the attempted murder or murder of their parent," she says.

Foster went on to reference the shooting of her father by the IRA when she was eight years old. John Kelly, a reserve police officer, was seriously injured but survived the attack.

"It never leaves you - you just live with it," she says, adding that she hopes the young people present last night were offered support after the "atrocious" incident.

Foster also urged people with information to come forward: "Dissident republicanism needs to be rooted out and that needs public support."

A man who was at the sports complex in Omagh when John Caldwell was shot has spoken of the scenes of panic in the aftermath of the attack.

The detective chief inspector was shot multiple times and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Peter Gormley, from Omagh Harriers Athletic Club, was on the running track when he heard several "loud bangs".

He tells BBC Radio Foyle people began panicking and fleeing in all directions when they heard gunfire.

"The group had just finished their cool down just before eight o'clock," Mr Gormley says.

"I heard a number of bangs, and to my mind I thought that it was gunfire.

"I was up at the track and went towards there and then somebody shouted that there was a gunman."

Read more here

The chairman of Beragh Swifts, an Omagh football club where John Caldwell is a coach, says it's "hard to put into words" what the children at the scene of the shooting witnessed last night.

Ricky Lyons says everyone at the club is shocked at the attack, adding it's "a very difficult time for everybody connected to Youth Sport", the complex where the shooting happened.

He told BBC Radio Ulster that they've been "taking it hour by hour" and offering "as much support to the kids as we can".

"I don't think there is any right-minded person in the country who can say they aren't angry," he said.

"It could happen in any club where there is a PSNI officer so we are angry, but our thoughts are with John and the people affected."

Lyons added that Caldwell, who's been coaching for a decade, is a "busy man but has been an unbelievable volunteer".

The children who witnessed the shooting of Det Ch Insp Caldwell will react in different ways to the trauma, Northern Ireland’s mental health champion tells BBC Radio Foyle.

“There will be a lot of distress. Some children may be very emotional, some may not want to talk about it, may not respond, shut down, withdraw – that is a very normal response,” Prof Siobhan O'Neill says.

Prof O’Neill says those who want to talk can be encouraged to.

“It may help if parents actually say that: ‘If you want to talk about this I am here for you’," she explains.

Those who don’t wish to speak about it, or who become withdrawn, are still “responding normally” to a traumatic event, Prof O'Neill continues.

“It is really about bringing young people back into their safe spaces, in their families, schools and communities, making sure they can connect with each other and feel safe and that we keep an eye out for children a few months down the line who are suffering psychologically who have flashbacks nightmares, and who need additional help.”

Image source, PA Media

An attempted murder investigation is under way in County Tyrone after a high-ranking officer was shot in Omagh. Here are the latest developments:

• Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell is fighting for his life in hospital after he was shot multiple times outside a sports complex while off-duty last night
• The 48-year-old has undergone a second surgery after the attack, which happened in front of his son after a football coaching session
• About 15 children were at the Youth Sports complex at the time of the shooting, according to a local principal, who police said ran from the scene in "sheer terror"
• Three men have been arrested in connection with the incident, and police said their "primary focus" was on dissident republicans and the New IRA
• In a media briefing earlier, PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne said the "brazen" attack sent shockwaves through the force
• Political leaders across the divide have condemned the attack - DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson called it an "evil deed" and welcomed a joint statement from all Stormont party leaders denouncing the shooting
• While Sinn Féin’s deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said leaders in Northern Ireland were “absolutely at one" in thinking such incidents "represent an attack on the peace process"

Chris Page
Ireland correspondent, in Omagh

It's almost 25 years since the peace agreement which largely ended the Troubles was signed, but in Omagh today there are disturbing echoes of the past.

It seems that the more the details of this attack emerge, the more horrifying the picture is.

Det Ch Insp John Caldwell, a husband and father, had been coaching an under-15 football team and was shot because he was a detective.

He was putting footballs into his car with his son when two men approached and opened fire.

He ran for his life, but was shot.

He fell down and the gunmen continued to fire at him.

Read more here.

Image source, Pacemaker

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood says last night’s shooting was “absolutely appalling”.

He tells BBC News NI that leaders across the political spectrum are “even more determined today” to reject violence.

“There are people out there who want to do damage to the will of the people… they won’t win, they won’t achieve anything.

“These dissident groups offer nothing to the community that they pretend to represent.

"They’re a total waste of space, they need to go back to where they came from and to leave us all alone to build a better future.”

The perpetrators of the attack have “no moral or political authority” to do what they did, according to MLA and former Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt.

The former victims’ commissioner told BBC News NI he “thought those days were behind us”.

Mr Nesbitt says he found the detail of the attack, with so many young people in the vicinity, particularly concerning.

“The gunmen effectively chased the man. How many people could have been caught accidentally by a loose round? Somebody could have been killed.

“I find it hard to take. My thoughts are entirely with John Caldwell, with his wife and his son.”

He says now is the time to think harder about prevention.

“These people should not be allowed to access a gun and do what they did last night.”

Drew Harris, Commissioner of An Garda Síochána (Irish police) says it is a "very sombre day for all of us involved in policing on this island".

He says they are thinking of John Caldwell and his family, and have assured the PSNI of "every assistance… both in terms of the investigation, but also ongoing operations that are being conducted".

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Harris previously served as deputy chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland from 2014 to 2018.

In comments reported by the PA news agency, he added: "Last night when we were informed of this attack, we reacted quickly in terms of providing a very strong presence in the border area.

"That has carried on throughout the day, and I personally assured the chief constable of our ongoing support with whatever requirements that they would make of us, as well as obviously conducting our own inquiries."

Image source, Pacemaker

Forensic officers have been examining the area outside a sports complex in Omagh, County Tyrone, where Det Ch Insp John Caldwell was shot.

The team has searched vehicles close to where the off-duty officer had been coaching young people at football before last night's attack.

Since this morning, police have been guarding entrances to the complex and the main building, while a number of sports pitches have been cordoned off while investigations continue.

Image source, Pacemaker

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says the chief constable told him Det Ch Insp Caldwell was "very seriously ill".

“We’re hoping and praying that he will be able to recover from the terrible injuries that have been inflicted upon him," he adds.

Sir Jeffrey denies that the political vacuum at Stormont is to blame for the shooting.

The DUP is currently blocking the functioning of the executive and assembly in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Sir Jeffrey tells reporters: "There were police officers and prison officers murdered when Stormont was sitting and therefore the thesis that somehow there are evil people in our society that need a political vacuum to carry out such terrible deeds simply doesn’t add up."

He also welcomed the joint statement from all of the Stormont party leaders condemning the shooting, saying it makes "very clear that the people who perpetrated this evil deed have no support across the entire community across Northern Ireland".

The PSNI say the primary focus of their investigation into Wednesday's shooting is on dissident republicans.

The term describes a range of individuals who do not accept the Good Friday Agreement – the 1998 peace deal which ended the worst of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The Provisional IRA – the main armed republican paramilitary group for most of the conflict – declared a ceasefire in the run up to the agreement and officially ended its violent campaign in 2005.

Dissident republicanism is made up of various groups which broke away from the Provisional IRA in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, including the Continuity IRA and New IRA.

The groups are much smaller than the Provisional IRA, although they have access to high-calibre weapons and have used improvised explosive devices and mortars in attacks and attempted attacks.

They have continued to use violence to attempt to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland in a single state but their activities have been sporadic and often undermined by the security services.

Read more: Timeline of dissident republican activity

Journalist Alan Rodgers, from the Ulster Herald, was at the scene of the shooting on Wednesday night.

He tells BBC Newsline that Youth Sport in Omagh is a popular place for a whole range of different sports, but that after the shooting everything was "totally different".

He met a crowd of worried parents, searching for their children in the main sports complex.

“All the children were inside at the coffee area, they were being talked to by police, the parents were coming and they didn’t know what had happened," he says.

“They were obviously distressed and they didn’t know whether their children were safe or what the story was."

“There was an awful lot of trauma, there was an awful lot of worried parents, they were greeted with a scene that had scores of police cars.

“They didn’t know where their children where, they didn’t know what was happening."

He says the children were coming out "quite distressed" and crying.

“One little boy who was within earshot of me was talking about how many times the police officer was shot and the sound of the firecrackers - no child should have to go through that.”

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan describes the scene when John Caldwell was shot in front of children and other parents.

He also thanked a member of the public who performed first aid on the detective and the ambulance crews for their quick response.