Key facts
- Two men have been charged with terrorism offenses in connection with the attempted murder of off-duty Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Co. Tyrone.
- A 26-year-old man faces charges of attempted murder for allegedly striking a police officer with a car in Dumfries, Scotland.
- Rodney Vanderpool, 55, is accused of firing at multiple police officers and a public safety officer in Syracuse, N.Y., during a standoff.
- The individuals arrested in Northern Ireland were detained under the Terrorism Act.
- Vanderpool was allegedly out on bail for sex abuse charges from 2013 when the shooting incident occurred.
Two separate incidents involving charges of attempted murder against police officers have led to court appearances. In Northern Ireland, two men have been charged with Preparation of Terrorist Acts and Perverting the Course of Justice in connection with the attempted murder of off-duty Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell. Caldwell was shot multiple times in front of his son in Omagh in February 2023 and sustained life-changing injuries, leading to his retirement from the PSNI in December 2024. The two men, aged 45 and 25, were arrested under the Terrorism Act, and police also searched a property and seized a vehicle in west Belfast. They are scheduled to appear at Dungannon Magistrates' Court.
In Scotland, a 26-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly deliberately driving a car at a police officer in Dumfries on July 28, 2025. The officer was taken to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary with serious but not life-threatening injuries. The accused is due to appear in Dumfries Sheriff Court on July 31, 2025.
In Syracuse, New York, court proceedings are ongoing for Rodney Vanderpool, 55, who is accused of shooting at 10 officers and a member of the Syracuse University Department of Public Safety at Tyler Court on May 9, 2026. During the standoff, Vanderpool allegedly fired at officers twice while they attempted to execute a search warrant at his apartment. Three officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries to their arms and were quickly released from the hospital. The Onondaga County District Attorney noted that Vanderpool was out on bail for sex abuse charges dating back to 2013 at the time of the incident. His defense team has requested a mental health examination, scheduled for July 25, 2026, with results expected in three to four weeks. Vanderpool is expected back in court in August.