UNITED AGAINST THE TERRORISTS

Leaders join to hit out at top cop's attackers | New IRA the 'primary focus' of investigation

-  REBECCA BLACK, CONOR COYLE, GRAINNE NI AODHA and PAUL BYRNE

THE PSNI yesterday confirmed they are treating the John Caldwell murder bid as terrorist related.

A senior officer said detectives' "primary line of enquiry" is that it was the New IRA who shot the DCI as he loaded footballs into his car at a sports ground in Omagh, Co Tyrone, on Wednesday night.

The PSNI issued the brief update as it was revealed one of the gunmen also turned his weapon towards the victim's terrified 12-year-old son.

The youngster was standing beside his dad when the would-be assassins approached and opened fire.

As he was hit, the detective shouted at his boy and his young teammates to run away. Children cowered behind bushes as the hitmen chased Mr Caldwell, who was shot again as he attempted to flee.

The thugs escaped in a car, which they later torched, as a number of people raced to help the stricken officer at the Youth Sport centre on the outskirts of the town.