Police release CCTV footage of cars used in attempted murder of PSNI’s John Caldwell

It comes after eleven people were arrested overnight in relation to the attempted murder of the senior PSNI detective, with police saying the arrests are a “significant development in the investigation”.

Nine men and two women aged between 21 and 72 were detained under the Terrorism Act in Omagh and Coalisland in Co Tyrone on Friday morning.

They have been taken to the Serious Crime Suite in Musgrave where they are being questioned by detectives.

DCI Caldwell suffered life-changing injuries in the attack in Omagh earlier this year.

He was shot multiple times as he was putting footballs into his car after coaching young people at football at a local sports centre.

The attack on February 22 happened in front of his young son.

Police believe the New IRA may have collaborated with an organised crime gang to carry out the attack.

Detective Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan said: “Today, I am also releasing new CCTV footage and photographs of a number of cars used by the gunmen and those involved on the night of, and prior to, John’s attempted murder on Wednesday 22nd February.”

He added: “As John was packing up after coaching a youth football team, he was shot multiple times and, when he fell to the ground, the gunmen continued to fire at him in front of terrified children and parents, and, disturbingly, in front of John’s young son.

“My investigation has progressed and I now believe a black Mercedes Benz C-Class (W204) 4-door saloon (2007/8 – 2014) was used as an operational vehicle by the New IRA both before and immediately after the attack when it was used to transport the gunmen and others away from the site of the burned out Ford Fiesta in Raculpa Road, referred to as Fiesta One.

“I am appealing for information about who was in this black Mercedes vehicle, where it was before the shooting and where it went afterwards. I know it travelled in a convoy on the Drumnakilly Road headed towards Omagh at 5.43pm on the 22nd with the two blue Ford Fiestas before the attack took place.

“I am also releasing new images today of the two Ford Fiestas.

“The new photograph of Fiesta One shows it leaving Barrack Street in Coalisland at 4.55pm on the afternoon of the shooting and travelling to Omagh. It had registration number MGZ 6242, and was fitted with false plates, FRZ 8414, prior to the attack.

"We know this vehicle left the sports complex and turned left onto the Killyclogher Road immediately after the shooting. It then travelled past Glendale Service Station to the Racolpa Road where it was abandoned and set on fire. We believe it travelled into Coalisland around 10pm on the previous night, the 21st.

“I am also releasing a new image of Fiesta Two, registration number RLZ 9805, with a missing alloy hubcap seen at 2.00pm at Tamnamore Park and Ride on 22nd February. I need to know where it travelled to from here before being burned out in Ardboe Industrial Estate the following day, Thursday 23rd February.

“I am appealing to anyone who has information about the movements of these vehicles, or the people within them, to contact police or Crimestoppers anonymously. No piece of information is too small.

“The Crimestoppers charity is offering one of the largest rewards of £150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the attempted murder.”

Mr Caldwell was discharged from hospital in April.

The high-profile detective had been recovering in hospital in Derry – where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited his bedside - before he was discharged.

This week he met the King and Queen on their two-day visit to Northern Ireland.

Mr Caldwell’s attendance at the royal event in Hillsborough was his first public appearance since he was shot.

“I am delighted that John is on the road to recovery and was able to attend a Garden Party this week hosted by the King and Queen. Now we need to make sure we bring those vile individuals who tried to murder him to justice,” Detective Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan added.