Several arrests have been made in connection to the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, a senior detective in Northern Ireland. The shooting is believed to be linked to dissident republican terror attacks, with loyalists having “strong links” to the New IRA, as reported by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to Northern Ireland’s Policing Board. Caldwell, who was shot numerous times in Co. Tyrone, remains critically ill in hospital. Police have confirmed that they have made several arrests, with three men currently being held in custody. The shooting has been strongly condemned across Northern Ireland’s political spectrum with a joint statement from Stormont political leaders referring to it as an attack carried out “by the enemies of our peace.” The investigation is being treated as terrorist-related with the New IRA as the primary line of enquiry. The New IRA is believed to be the largest of the republican groups in Northern Ireland, and is predominantly based in Derry and the nearby Co. Tyrone town of Strabane.
Police arrest loyalists with links to New IRA over police officer shooting.
