John Caldwell: Three charged in connection with officer's shooting

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John Caldwell at a garden party at Hillsborough CastleImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

John Caldwell left hospital in April

Three men arrested earlier in connection with the attempted murder of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell have been charged with terrorism offences.

Det Ch Insp Caldwell was shot after coaching a youth football team in Omagh, County Tyrone, on 22 February.

The men, aged 45, 47 and 58, have all been charged with preparatory acts of terrorism.

The 45-year-old and the 58-year-old have also been charged with possessing articles for use in terrorism.

They have both been further charged with providing property for the purposes of terrorism.

All three men are expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The men were arrested under the Terrorism Act in Newtownabbey, Coalisland and Belfast on Tuesday.

There have been 31 arrests to date over the attack on Det Ch Insp Caldwell - a figure that includes individuals who have been arrested more than once.

Image source, Pacemaker
Image caption,

The shooting happened at a sports complex in Omagh

The dissident republican group the New IRA said it carried out the shooting, at a sports complex car park.

Seven men have appeared in court charged in relation to the attack.

The shooting, which happened in front of school children, was widely condemned by political figures across Northern Ireland and beyond.