IRA splinter group claims responsibility for police shooting
Police in Northern Ireland say they were reviewing an unverified statement by an Irish Republican Army splinter group claiming responsibility for the shooting of a senior police officer
LONDON (AP) — Police in Northern Ireland said Monday they were looking into an unverified statement by an Irish Republican Army splinter group claiming responsibility for the shooting of a senior police officer.
A statement purportedly from the dissident group known as the New IRA appeared on a wall in Londonderry late Sunday, claiming it was responsible for Wednesday's attack on Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell.
Two masked men shot Caldwell in front of his young son after the off-duty officer coached a children's soccer team in Omagh, about 60 miles (nearly 100 kilometers) west of Belfast. Caldwell remained in critical condition in hospital.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said Monday police were aware of the claim of responsibility and was “reviewing its contents as part of the overall investigation.”
