Northern Ireland's political leaders have joined together to condemn the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh last night.
The senior PSNI officer was shot and seriously injured in front of his young son after a coaching session at a sports complex on the Killyclogher Road last night. He remains in a critical but stable condition.
Three men have been arrested in connection with the attack.
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price also condemned attack, saying that the US stands with Northern Ireland in its "effort to ensure there is never a return to the dark days of the past".
Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of the police officer who was attacked in Northern Ireland. We condemn this act of violence and stand with Northern Ireland in its effort to ensure there is never a return to the dark days of the past. pic.twitter.com/QqNePwl4Me
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) February 23, 2023
Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, Alliance leader Naomi Long, UUP leader Doug Beattie and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said they stand united in outright condemnation of the shooting.
In a joint statement, the political leaders in Northern Ireland said: "We speak for the overwhelming majority of people right across our community who are outraged and sickened by this reprehensible and callous attempted murder.
"The community of Omagh has endured profound suffering, loss and pain in the past which has left a deep trauma, and so this act of violence has left people there rightly angered.
"There is absolutely no tolerance for such attacks by the enemies of our peace.
"Those responsible must be brought to justice.
"This will require the full co-operation of the public whom we call upon to assist police in this attempted murder investigation.
"Together we stand with John's family and his colleagues in the police service at this time."
President Michael D Higgins said that the shooting was something "that will be condemned by all those who believe in democracy and the peace that we all need to sustain.
"It is to be welcomed that members of all communities have expressed their revulsion at this act."
The Taoiseach has condemned the shooting and said that the events surrounding it were "truly awful".
Leo Varadkar said he hoped Det Chief Inspector Caldwell has a speedy recovery and extended his best wishes to him, his family and friends.
He said that the attack was a "chilling reminder of a really dark past that we all hope is behind us".
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the "disgraceful shooting of an off-duty police officer in Omagh".
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the shooting was "diabolical and unacceptable" and added that there was no excuse or political rationale for it.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said that there can be no hiding place for those who carried out the attack.
"Now what we need is an all-Ireland effort co-operation between An Garda Síochana and the PSNI to find the motive for this act, and more importantly to apprehend the perpetrators, and anybody with any evidence or any information must not hesitate in bringing that forward immediately to the appropriate authorities."
The Garda Commissioner has said that his thoughts are with Chief Inspector Caldwell and his family.
Speaking at the meeting of the Policing Authority in Dublin, Drew Harris said "we have provided and assured (the) PSNI of every assistance, in terms of operationally everything we can do to assist them, both in terms of the investigation and the ongoing operations that are being conducted today".
He added that gardaí reacted quickly last night by providing a "very strong presence" in the border area and that is continuing today.
Additional reporting Laura Hogan, Colman O'Sullivan
