The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that an off-duty police officer was shot in Omagh, Co Tyrone on February 22.RollingNews.ie

An off-duty police officer is in a critical but stable condition following a shooting in Omagh, Co Tyrone on Wednesday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot multiple times by a masked man in front of a group of young people he had been coaching, according to the PSNI's Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan.

Caldwell's son was among the young people who witnessed the shooting, according to the PSNI. 

"The officer's condition remains critical but stable," McEwan told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster program.  

The PSNI said in a statement on Wednesday that the shooting took place in the Killyclogher Road just before 8 p.m. 

“One man, a serving police officer, has been taken to hospital for treatment after being injured in a shooting incident at a sports complex just before 8pm this evening," the PSNI said in a statement. 

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it received a 999 call at 8:02 pm following reports of an incident in the Slievard area of Killyclogher.

“NIAS despatched a Rapid Response Paramedic, an emergency crew, and an ambulance officer to the incident,” a spokesperson said.

"Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken by ambulance to Altnagelvin Area Hospital.”

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland said: “We totally condemn this appalling & barbaric act of violence on an off-duty officer in Omagh. 

“Our thoughts are with our colleague & his family. These gunmen offer nothing to society. Anyone with info should come forward.”

It is believed the suspects fled across the border to Ireland, prompting a response from An Garda Síochána. “We are working closely in cooperation with our counterparts in the PSNI,” a Garda spokesperson told the Independent.

A Garda spokesperson further informed The Journal that gardaí have “intensified patrolling in border counties."

A number of politicians have responded to what is the first gun attack on a serving police officer in Northern Ireland since 2017.

Michelle O'Neill, the  Vice President of Sinn Féin, condemned the "reprehensible attempt to murder a police officer."

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, head of the Democratic Uninonist Party (DUP), condemned the "cowards responsible for this."

Colum Eastwood, head of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said the people behind the attack are in a "fight they will never, never win."

Doug Beattie, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), offered the officer's family and colleagues his thoughts in the wake of the "grim news."

Naomi Long, head of the Alliance Party, described the incident as an "evil act of cowardice."

Northern Ireland's Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said those responsible for the "shocking incident" must be brought to justice.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was "shocked and appalled" by the shooting.