On Friday, a 36-year-old man was arrested in connection with the attempted murder of a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detective. The incident occurred on January 22 in close proximity to an Irish language school in Belfast. Despite the arrest, the man has since been released from custody pending further inquiries. This arrest provided some sense of relief within the local community, but questions and concerns remain unanswered about the incident and what this means for the safety of others going forward.
On January 27th, a 36-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the attempted murder of a PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) detective, was released. The PSNI Detective, who has not been named, survived the attack after being shot at his home near Lisburn on 26th January. The attack is believed to have been carried out by the New IRA.
The man had been arrested at a house in West Belfast on January 26th, and had been taken to the Musgrave Police Station for questioning. Following his release, the PSNI have said that their investigation into the attack is ongoing.
The attack was claimed by the New IRA, an Irish republican paramilitary group that seeks to end British rule in Northern Ireland and unite the country with the Republic of Ireland. The group has been responsible for a number of attacks in recent years, including the bombing of a car park at the Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry in 2019.
The shooting of the PSNI detective has been condemned by politicians and community leaders in Northern Ireland, who have called for an end to violence and intimidation in the region.
It has also been reported that a woman has been arrested in connection with the shooting of DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) John Caldwell. The shooting took place on January 27th in the Creggan area of Derry. DCI Caldwell was shot in the arm and is said to be in a stable condition in hospital.
The woman, who has not been named, is believed to be another Protestant. The shooting has been claimed by the New IRA, who said that it was in response to recent arrests of their members.
Meanwhile, a man who was held in connection with the New IRA claim on the shooting of a senior detective has been released. The man was arrested in the Ballysillan area of Belfast on January 26th, but was released the following day. The PSNI have said that their investigation is ongoing.
The attacks come amid a period of heightened tensions in Northern Ireland, as the country prepares to mark the centenary of its partition, which led to the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921. There are concerns that the anniversary could lead to an increase in violence, particularly in loyalist areas, where there is anger over Brexit arrangements that have left Northern Ireland with a different status from the rest of the UK.
Politicians in Northern Ireland have called for calm and for dialogue to resolve the current tensions. However, there are fears that the situation could escalate further unless a solution is found.
