Julian O'Neill
NI Home Affairs Correspondent

Quite clearly this was a cold-blooded attack, it was one carried out in a brutal fashion.

It’s clear from what we heard last night and are hearing again this morning, this officer is very lucky to have survived given that he was shot a number of times.

Det Ch Insp John Caldwell has led a number of major investigations both into dissident republican terrorism and drug-related organised crime.

He would have on many occasions fronted up media press conferences in dealing with those cases.

It is clear at this stage that initial suspicions are falling on dissident republicans.

Image source, Pacemaker

This attack occurred 20 miles from Strabane where, last November, the new IRA attempted to kill two police officers who were on duty and patrolling in their car when it was targeted in a bomb attack.

This is clearly the most serious attack on a PSNI officer for some considerable time.

You probably need to go back to the period between 2009 and 2011 when two officers were murdered and another seriously injured to find anything comparable.

Good Morning Ulster is coming live from Omagh, where Chris Buckler is reporting from the scene of the attack.

There is a link to the programme at the top of this page and it is also available here.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan has described the officer as a "respected figure".

"John dedicates himself to service both as an SIO (senior investigating officer) in supporting victims' families and bringing others to justice and as an active member of the community."

The "primary focus" of the police investigation is on violent dissident republicans, Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan says.

"There is a primary focus as well on the New IRA," he added.

"The investigation is at an early stage, we are keeping an open mind."

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan says Det Ch Insp John Caldwell was putting footballs in the back of his car, accompanied by his son, when he was shot multiple times by two gunmen.

The officer ran a short way before falling and being shot again.

“That shows the absolute callous nature of that attack in a crowded space," the senior officer explained.

The police officer who was shot on Wednesday night is Det Ch Insp John Caldwell.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan told BBC News NI his condition is critical but stable.

Image source, Pacemaker

Órfhlaith Begley, MP for West Tyrone, said the people of Omagh stand united to condemn the attack.

“This isn’t just an attack on an officer, it’s an attack on the local community here in Omagh," she said.

Ms Begley said it was “callous” that the attack took place in front of young people and children.

She added it was not helpful to speculate motive or who may be behind the attack at this time.

Image source, PA Media

Politicians in Northern Ireland have expressed their anger at the shooting in Omagh.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said it was an "outrageous and shameful attack".

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson condemned the "cowards responsible for this", while former justice minister and Alliance leader Naomi Long said her thoughts were with those affected by this "evil act of cowardice".

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described the shooting as a "chilling attack on an individual serving his community".

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris added "those responsible for such horror must be brought to justice".

Image source, EPA

DUP MLA Thomas Buchanan described the attack as a “cold, callous act of terrorism”.

The West Tyrone representative told the Good Morning Ulster programme the officer was highly respected and well-liked by all of the community in Omagh.

It was “deplorable”, he added, that the shooting took place in front of young people.

Julian O'Neill
NI Home Affairs Correspondent

This is probably the most serious attack on a police officer since the murder of Ronan Kerr in Omagh in 2011.

That attack, like this latest one, took place in Omagh.

The officer targeted is a detective of quite senior rank.

He has a public profile, having carried out media duties as the lead officer on several high-profile cases.

These cover both dissident republican violence and crime gang murders.

The police have said nothing officially about a potential motive for the shooting.

But among fellow officers, suspicion in the first instance has fallen on dissident groups.

Despite a relative lull in activity in recent years, the New IRA in particular has continued to target police officers.

Chris Page
Ireland correspondent, in Omagh

According to the Police Federation in Northern Ireland, the officer who was shot had been coaching young people at football and it was a very busy sports complex at the time of the shooting.

Children, parents and coaches were all on site.

This morning, the main building and a number of sports pitches are cordoned off.

There are several police officers guarding different entrances – a car with some detectives has just gone into the scene where forensic searches were carried out on Wednesday night in the car park.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has led the condemnation following the shooting in Omagh.

Mr Sunak said he was "appalled by the disgraceful shooting".

"There is no place in our society for those who seek to harm public servants protecting communities," said the prime minister.

Hello and welcome to our live page following the shooting of a police officer at a sports complex in Omagh, County Tyrone, on Wednesday evening.

He was hit multiple times on the Killyclogher Road before 20:00 GMT.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland said two gunmen were involved and he was shot while coaching young people playing football.

He remains in a critical but serious condition at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

Read more here.

Stay with us throughout today, as we bring you the latest developments.