Tom Elliott

An attempted murder investigation has been launched after an off-duty Police Officer was shot at a Sports Complex in Omagh, County Tyrone , on Wednesday.

He was hit multiple times on the Killyclogher Road before 20:00 GMT.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland said two gunmen were involved and he was shot while coaching Young People playing football.

He remains in a critical but serious condition at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was " appalled by the disgraceful shooting".

" There is No Place in our society for those who seek to harm public servants protecting communities, " He Said .

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he was " shocked and saddened" by The Events .

" We will relentlessly pursue those responsible, " he tweeted.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a call about The Shooting at Youth Sport Omagh at 20:00 GMT and sent a crew.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said it was an " outrageous and shameful attack".

Democratic Unionist leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson condemned the " cowards responsible for this".

" I unreservedly condemn this reprehensible attempt to murder a Police Officer , " She Said .

Former Justice Minister and Alliance leader Naomi Long said her thoughts were with those affected by this " evil act of cowardice".

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood , MP, said it was a " chilling attack on an individual serving his community".

Ulster Unionist assembly member Tom Elliott said it was a " despicable and cowardly action".

The Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, said that " those responsible for such horror must be brought to justice".

Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Vardakar said he condemned the " grotesque act of attempted murder".

The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs , Micheál Martin, said he was " shocked and appalled".

This is probably The Most serious attack on a Police Officer since

That attack, like this latest one, took place in Omagh.

The Officer targeted is a detective of quite senior rank.

He has a public profile, having carried out media duties as The Lead officer on several high-profile cases.

These cover both dissident republican violence and crime gang murders.

The Police have said nothing officially about a potential motive for The Shooting .

But among fellow officers, suspicion in The First instance has fallen on dissident groups.

Despite a relative lull in activity in recent years, the New IRA in particular has continued to target police officers.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland condemned what it called an " appalling and barbaric act of violence on an off-duty officer".

" Our thoughts are with our colleague and His Family . These gunmen offer nothing to society. Anyone with information should come forward. "

An Garda Síochána (Irish police) said it had intensified patrolling in border counties.

The Last gun attack on a PSNI officer was in January 2017. The PSNI officer was hit by an

The Officer was hit at least twice in his Right Arm , and it is thought a bulletproof vest may have saved his life.

Source of news: bbc.com