Seven men charged with attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell

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Seven men have been charged with the attempted murder of a senior police detective in Northern Ireland, police said.

DCI John Caldwell was shot multiple times at a sports complex in Omagh, County Tyrone, after a youth football team coaching session on 22 February in an attack linked to dissident republicans. His son was with him as he loaded footballs into the boot of his car when the gunmen approached.

Two men aged 28, and five men aged 33, 38, 45, 47 and 72, have been charged with attempted murder, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Saturday evening.

Two of the men – aged 38 and 45 – have also been charged with membership of a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA. Three of the men – aged 28, 33 and 47 – have also been charged with preparation of terrorist acts.

All seven men are expected to appear before Dungannon magistrates court via video link on Monday.

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

At a press conference in Belfast on Friday, DCI Eamonn Corrigan said 28 arrests had been made to date in the investigation of 21 individuals.

Earlier this week, Caldwell attended a garden party in County Down with King Charles and Queen Camilla. It was the first time he had appeared in public since the attack.