Northern Irish police arrest sixth man over shooting of detective

FILE PHOTO: A police officer stands guard at the Youth Sport Omagh sports complex on Killyclogher Road, where off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot, in Omagh, Northern Ireland February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Lorraine O'Sullivan

Northern Ireland police arrested a sixth man on Saturday in connection with the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell.

A 71-year-old man was detained in Omagh under the Terrorism Act and was taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite to be questioned by detectives, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said in a statement.

Five men aged 22, 38, 43, 45 and 47 arrested earlier in connection with the attack remain in police custody.

FILE PHOTO: A forensic officer from Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) works at the scene of the Youth Sport Omagh sports complex on Killyclogher Road area, where off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot, in Omagh, Northern Ireland February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Lorraine O'Sullivan

Caldwell, a serving police officer for 26 years, is in critical condition after undergoing surgery.

He was shot a number of times on Wednesday evening by two gunmen in front of his young son as he was putting footballs in his car after finishing a coaching session with an under-15 soccer team.

FILE PHOTO: A Youth Sport Omagh sports complex sign is seen on Killyclogher Road, where off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot, in Omagh, Northern Ireland February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Lorraine O'Sullivan

(Reporting by Sneha Bhowmik in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)