Police Appeal: Attempted Murder of Serving Police Officer

• Were you in the area of the Youth Sport Omagh Complex in the Killyclogher Road area of Omagh around 8pm on Wednesday 22 February 2023?
• Two gunmen dressed in dark clothing, approached John Caldwell as he stood by his car. Several shots were fired before the gunmen fled in a small dark coloured Fiesta vehicle shortly after 8pm. This vehicle was abandoned and set alight on the Racolpa Road, Omagh minutes after the shooting.
• A second dark coloured Ford Fiesta was found burned out in Ardboe Industrial Estate on Thursday 23 February shortly after 9pm. This vehicle is also suspected to have been involved in the shooting of John Caldwell.

Detectives have released CCTV footage and photographs of vehicles believed to have been used in attack on DCI John Caldwell

On Friday 26th May, police conducted a search and arrest operation in relation to the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell. Eleven people - nine men and two women - aged between 21 and 72 years old were arrested under the Terrorism Act in Omagh and Coalisland. 

CCTV footage and photographs also released show a number of cars believed to have been used by the gunmen and those involved in the attack on DCI Caldwell on Wednesday 22nd February.

Black Mercedes Benz C-Class

We 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.

Do you know who was in this black Mercedes vehicle, where it was before the shooting or where it went afterwards? We 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.

Fiesta One

Fiesta One leaves 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. 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.

Fiesta Two

Fiesta Two, registration number RLZ 9805, with a missing alloy hubcap is seen at 2.00pm at Tamnamore Park and Ride on 22nd February. Do you know where it travelled to from here? This vehicle was subsequently burned out in Ardboe Industrial Estate the following day, Thursday 23rd February.

We are interested in mobile phone videos, CCTV footage, vehicle dash-cam footage and photos of the incident as well as any other information which may help the investigation. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence. 

If you have any information, please contact detectives on 101, quoting 1831 of 22/02/23.

Information can also be submitted via the Major Incident Public Portal.

Crimestoppers are offering a reward of £150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell.

Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on Freephone 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org