The principal of Omagh High School has said pupils who witnessed the shooting of a PSNI officer are manifesting the shock in different ways.
Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, who was off-duty at the time, was shot and seriously injured in front of his young son and others on Wednesday night, after a coaching session at a sports complex just outside the Co Tyrone town.
Three men - aged 38, 45 and 47 - have been arrested for attempted murder.
Police there say the New IRA is the "primary focus" of their investigation.
A sign for the Youth Sport Omagh sports complex in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland where off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot a number of times by masked men. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock PhotoThe attack happened while Inspector Caldwell was loading footballs into the boot of his car and two men opened fire.
Christos Gaitatzis is principal of nearby Omagh High School, and said many of his students are in shock.
"This morning we had an assembly with the school and we tried our best to re-enforce with the students that there is open channels of communication for them to talk," he told Newstalk's Barry Whyte.
"This is something that affects us all, and we really need to support each other".
'15 pupils were there'
School authorities have also spoken individually with the children who witnessed the incident.
"There were 15 pupils of ours that were there last night, involved either with the football or the running club," Mr Gaitatzis said.
"Some of them did not make it to school today, they felt that they were unable to deal with the intensity of the shock last night.
"The pupils that made it here today, there's eight of them, some of them are very, very shocked.
"Some of them are very worried about the health of their coach, John.
"Some of them are feeling really a lot of pressure; and we've spoken to them all individually.
"They all manifest the shock of last night in a different way, so we are really trying to support them through the needs that they have today.
"I think there is no humanity in those people that actually attacked John last night because it involved also young children," he added.
'Grotesque act'
The shooting has been condemned by politicians on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar condemned the "grotesque act of attempted murder."
"Our thoughts are with the injured officer, his family, colleagues and friends at this difficult time.
"I utterly condemn this grotesque act of attempted murder," the Taoiseach said.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was appalled by the "disgraceful shooting of an off-duty police officer in Omagh".
First Minister (Designate) of Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, said it was an "outrageous and shameful attack".
"My immediate thoughts are with the officer and his family," she said.
"I unreservedly condemn this reprehensible attempt to murder a police officer", she added.
Inspector Caldwell remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital, where he underwent surgery overnight.
Reporting by: Barry Whyte in Omagh, Co Tyrone
