He was standing at the boot of his car with his teenage son when two masked men opened fire
Colleagues of PSNI officer John Caldwell believe he has been the victim of a personal grudge that developed during his work as senior detective, and may well know his attackers.
One security source told Belfast Live: “This wasn’t just a hit on a policeman, this was a hit on John himself, targeted specifically because of the work he does, targeted because of the difficulties he poses for the people he seeks to bring to justice. "An experienced sniper in close proximity would have been brutal to the very end, would have finished what he set out to do. Thankfully they didn’t and we hope John will be able to make a full recovery.
As the investigation continues, the safety and security of Northern Ireland’s police officers can once again come into focus. And as the dissident republicans continue to create havoc in Northern Ireland, the question of where they source their weapons, once again arises. “These hides were on farms far from the border and typically they were constructed in holes in the ground in barns and byres, constructed of heavy planking and plastic. They were then covered over with eight or 12 inches of concrete. After a while one would never know they were there.
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