Image source, Rev Graham Hare

Church of Ireland rector, Revered Graham Hare of St Columba's Church in Omagh, says that the town is "clearly sickened and absolutely revolted".

"What we saw unfold here last night was simply an attack on decency," he tells BBC Newsline.

"This town is not defined by what strangers come and do, this town is defined by the great people of Omagh who will stand in solidarity and support with John Caldwell, his family and all those who take their place in serving the public in the days ahead."

Earlier, Rev Hare told BBC Talkback that such an "evil deed" is "beyond all reasonable thinking".

About 15 children were at the Youth Sports complex at the time of the shooting, a local principal tells BBC Talkback.

"Some kids did not make it to school but we spoke to them at home, it is very, very difficult because the children were just next to the person who was shot," Christos Gaitatzis says.

The Omagh High School principal says he is concerned for the wellbeing of pupils and that support will be provided to them.

"Two of our pupils were next to the son of John, helping him to get sporting equipment out of his car and they saw everything that happened when he was shot initially and tried to run away as quickly as possible.

"It was not an attack only to a brilliant guy who was helping the kids in a coaching session there but also the youngsters."

Sinn Féin’s deputy leader says last night's attack is “totally intolerable”.

She says political leaders in Northern Ireland are “absolutely at one and united that this is something that we don’t want to see in our society and needs to stop”.

“I think they represent an attack on the peace process and everything that we have achieved over the last 25 years and that can’t be allowed to happen."

Northern Ireland’s political party leaders will meet with the PSNI’s chief constable tomorrow to discuss the current threat level, she adds.

“In the coming days we will speak to the chief constable about his assessment of the threat level.

“Police officers are out every day to safeguard our community. They deserve to do that, to be safe in their job."

DUP councillor Errol Thompson says there is a "great sense of shock and anger" in Omagh after Wednesday's shooting.

The councillor has known John Caldwell since he was a teenager, described him as "a great lad and now a great gentleman".

Julian O'Neill
NI Home Affairs Correspondent

During a press conference earlier, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said that Det Ch Insp Caldwell had had surgery overnight and remains in critical condition.

It is now understood that the 48-year-old is currently undergoing more procedures.

Niall McCracken
BBC News NI

Mary Garrity is from Trillick, a small village in County Tyrone, just 15 miles outside Omagh.

She is in Omagh town centre today getting on with her daily routine, but says she is still “shook” by last night’s events.

“It’s shocking to say the least and it’s not what Omagh needs," she says.

"It brings back hard memories for all the people of this town.”

Omagh was where the biggest single atrocity in the Troubles happened, a car bomb on 15 August 1998 in which 29 people died.

Mary adds: “I have young boys who play soccer and Gaelic football in the area and I was actually picking my son up at the same time this happened at another club in Fermanagh.

“To think I was only miles away doing a similar thing, it’s just so wholly unbelievable.

“You can feel it in the town today, it’s very tangible, just very upsetting for everyone.”

Niall McCracken
BBC News NI

Gordon Buchanan says the entire town of Omagh is in shock at the news.

"I think it’s one of the most callous and cruel things I’ve ever heard," he says.

"It’s just horrible.”

Gordon added: “I don't know John Caldwell but I know who he is, clearly he’s a competent police officer and to give up his time to coach young people, shows the calibre of the man.

“What has happened, my heart just goes out to him and his family after such an evil act.”

The wife of a serving police officer says she is “absolutely dumbfounded” by the shooting of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell in Omagh.

“I just feel that even without an attack like this happening, it is one of the most difficult things to watch your husband going out to work, whether it’s in the morning, an afternoon or for a nightshift,” she tells BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback.

“Leaving myself and a young family at home and you have no guarantee whatsoever that he’s going to come back safely at the end of the shift.”

She says she will now be more frightened and anxious than she was prior to the attack in Omagh.

Another texter to the programme says she had to explain to her 11-year-old daughter on Thursday morning, that her father, a serving police officer, would not be shot.

"How can I make that promise after what happened last night?" the woman adds.

If you're just joining us or need a catch-up, here are the latest developments in the shooting of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell:

• Three men have been arrested in connection with the shooting of the off-duty police officer in Omagh, County Tyrone, last night
• The men aged 38, 45 and 47 were detained in Omagh and Coalisland and are being questioned by detectives at Musgrave serious crime suite
• Caldwell has undergone surgery and remains in a critical condition in hospital
• Chief Constable Simon Byrne said the attack has sent a huge shockwave across the Police Service of Northern Ireland
• Two gunmen fired multiple shots at Caldwell, who was putting footballs into his car alongside his son after coaching young people at football
• Caldwell then ran a short distance and fell to the ground before the gunmen continued to fire at him
• Police thanked the "brave actions" of one member of the public who gave first aid at the scene
• The investigation is looking at links to violent dissident republicans, with a focus on the New IRA, police say

Niall McCracken
BBC News NI

Elaine Thompson says she knows Det Ch Insp John Caldwell.

“When I heard it on the news I was in complete shock, it’s very hard to take in," she says.

She says the way young people were impacted makes it hard to comprehend.

“I know a young fella who was at our church, he’s about 12 or 13 years old, who was there at the sports club and he was very traumatised by the whole thing," she explains.

“His parents were saying he was crying, it’s just awful to think it’s happening again and for young people to have to experience this as well.”

She added: “But they have shot fathers in front of their children before in this country, unfortunately it’s not a new thing, but nobody wants to go back to that.”

More now from Chief Constable Simon Byrne, who says Det Ch Insp John Caldwell has been a valued police officer for 26 years.

"John is held in the highest esteem within our organisation," he says.

"He is a credit to his family and to the police service.

"Our thoughts are with John and his family as he fights for his life in hospital today."

BBC Radio Foyle's News at One programme will be broadcasting from the scene of last night's shooting in Omagh.

The programme will be available from 13:00 GMT here.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne says it's a "deeply troubling" day for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which has "suffered so much in the past".

He thanked officers and staff who continue to fight terrorism and organised crime.

Mr Byrne was speaking alongside Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan at a press conference.

David Wilson
BBC News NI

Image source, PA Media

Det Ch Insp John Caldwell is one of the best-known detectives in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

He has been the senior detective in many high-profile inquiries, including the 2011 murder of his colleague Ronan Kerr by dissident republicans.

From County Tyrone, the senior officer often fronts press conferences in the course of major inquiries.

He has received a number of threats in the past, BBC News NI understands and was aware that his investigations relating to dissident republican attacks - such as the Ronan Kerr murder and that of Lyra McKee in 2019 - made him a high-profile target.

In January, he spoke to reporters after the killing of Shane Whitla, a 39-year-old father of four who was shot a number of times in the town of Lurgan in County Armagh.

He was also the initial lead detective investigating the killing of Natalie McNally in Lurgan.

• Read the full profile of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell here

The widow of Constable Stephen Carroll, who was shot dead by dissident republicans in 2009, says she was "horrified and sickened" by Wednesday's attack.

Recounting her own experience, Kate Carroll told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme her husband "was out every morning with a target on his back".

"You kissed him goodbye and you didn’t know whether it was the last time you would ever speak to him," she explained.

She said she understood the trauma being experienced by Mr Caldwell's family.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan says children ran in “sheer terror” when two gunmen fired multiple shots at Det Ch Insp John Caldwell.

“John was finishing up coaching an under-15 football team, he was accompanied by his young son,” he says.

Image source, PA Media

“Two gunmen appeared, fired multiple shots and John ran a short distance and as he fell to the ground gunmen continued to fire shots at him.

“We’d like acknowledge the quick brave actions of one member of the public who gave first aid.

“At this time there were many other children, those children ran for cover in sheer terror.”

Det Ch Insp John Caldwell has had surgery overnight and remains in a critical condition at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, the chief constable says.

Simon Byrne adds the PSNI is shocked and angered by what he describes as a "brazen attack".

He says his colleagues are extremely distressed by the attack but remain resolute and determined to bring those responsible to justice.

The three men arrested are aged 38, 45 and 47.

They were detained in Omagh and Coalisland.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said: "They are currently being questioned by detectives at Musgrave serious crime suite."

Image source, PA Media

Three men have been arrested in connection with the shooting of police officer John Caldwell in Omagh.

The PSNI is expected to provide an update on their investigation shortly.

It can be viewed via the link at the top of this page when it begins.