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2 April 2011
Last updated at 18:32 ET
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Chief Constable of the PSNI, Matt Baggott, said Constable Kerr was a "modern-day hero"
Northern Ireland's chief constable said tragedy had returned to Omagh after a police officer died in a bomb blast.
Constable Ronan Kerr was killed in the attack outside his home in Highfield Close just before 1600 BST on Saturday.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Ronan's family this evening because we've lost one of our brave and courageous peacekeepers and peacemakers."
Mr Baggott urged the public to be both vigilant and to support the police.
Neighbours rushed to help the officer and tried to put out the flames from the explosion. He died at the scene.
Constable Kerr was recently qualified and is the second policeman to be killed since the Police Service of Northern Ireland was formed out of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 2001.
Since 2007, dissident republicans have planted dozens of booby-trap bombs under the private cars of police officers.
The bombs have failed to detonate, but two policemen lost their legs in attacks in May 2008 and January 2010.
Continue reading the main story Analysis
Dissident republicans are trying to de-stabilise Northern Ireland at a time when it has rarely been more stable.
Power-sharing is working. The Stormont Assembly has just completed it first full four-year term for 30 years.
Relations between Britain and Ireland have never been better. This summer, the Queen will make an historic first visit to Dublin, demonstrating how relations on these islands have normalised.
Violent republican groups like the Real IRA and Oglaigh na hEireann are fighting against normality.
On Saturday morning about 2,000 people, who were taking part in the Omagh half marathon, passed the nearby entrance to the estate just hours before the blast.
Politicians and party leaders from across Northern Ireland and the Republic have condemned the attack. As of yet there has been no claim of responsibility for his murder.
Northern Ireland's First Minister, Peter Robinson, said he shared the outrage of the country.
"It was a young man who was bravely entering the police service, recognising that he was putting his life on the line.
"I have absolutely no doubt the overwhelming number of people in NI want to move on. It's only a few Neanderthal who want to go back.
"They will not drag us back to the past."
Prime Minister, David Cameron, said the officer had dedicated himself to serving the entire community of Northern Ireland.
"Those who carried out this wicked and cowardly crime will never succeed in dragging Northern Ireland back to a dark and bloody past. Their actions are rejected by the overwhelming majority of people right from all parts of the community," he said.
Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson said it had been "an evil act, carried out by enemies of the whole community".
Dissidents And shadow Northern Ireland secretary Shaun Woodward said: "We all have a duty to stop those behind it from succeeding."
Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, said his party was determined that those responsible would not set back the progress of the peace and political process.
Prayers are being said at vigil masses throughout Omagh on Saturday night for the policeman.
In March 2009, a police officer was shot dead as he answered a distress call in Craigavon, County Armagh.
Dissident republican group, the Continuity IRA, claimed responsibility for the attack. Constable Stephen Carroll, 48, was married and from Banbridge.
He was murdered two days after the Real IRA shot dead two soldiers outside Massereene Barracks in Antrim.
The Continuity IRA is one of a number of dissident republican paramilitary groups opposed to the peace process. They have carried out bomb and gun attacks on civilians and the security forces.
There is believed to be cross-over and co-operation between the Continuity IRA and the larger Real IRA, which bombed Omagh in 1998.
The car bomb killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured hundreds more.
Do you live in the area of the attack? Send us your comments using the form below.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Chief Constable of the PSNI, Matt Baggott, said Constable Kerr was a "modern-day hero"
Northern Ireland's chief constable said tragedy had returned to Omagh after a police officer died in a bomb blast.
Constable Ronan Kerr was killed in the attack outside his home in Highfield Close just before 1600 BST on Saturday.
Chief Constable Matt Baggott said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Ronan's family this evening because we've lost one of our brave and courageous peacekeepers and peacemakers."
Mr Baggott urged the public to be both vigilant and to support the police.
Neighbours rushed to help the officer and tried to put out the flames from the explosion. He died at the scene.
Constable Kerr was recently qualified and is the second policeman to be killed since the Police Service of Northern Ireland was formed out of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 2001.
Since 2007, dissident republicans have planted dozens of booby-trap bombs under the private cars of police officers.
The bombs have failed to detonate, but two policemen lost their legs in attacks in May 2008 and January 2010.
Continue reading the main story Analysis
Dissident republicans are trying to de-stabilise Northern Ireland at a time when it has rarely been more stable.
Power-sharing is working. The Stormont Assembly has just completed it first full four-year term for 30 years.
Relations between Britain and Ireland have never been better. This summer, the Queen will make an historic first visit to Dublin, demonstrating how relations on these islands have normalised.
Violent republican groups like the Real IRA and Oglaigh na hEireann are fighting against normality.
On Saturday morning about 2,000 people, who were taking part in the Omagh half marathon, passed the nearby entrance to the estate just hours before the blast.
Politicians and party leaders from across Northern Ireland and the Republic have condemned the attack. As of yet there has been no claim of responsibility for his murder.
Northern Ireland's First Minister, Peter Robinson, said he shared the outrage of the country.
"It was a young man who was bravely entering the police service, recognising that he was putting his life on the line.
"I have absolutely no doubt the overwhelming number of people in NI want to move on. It's only a few Neanderthal who want to go back.
"They will not drag us back to the past."
Prime Minister, David Cameron, said the officer had dedicated himself to serving the entire community of Northern Ireland.
"Those who carried out this wicked and cowardly crime will never succeed in dragging Northern Ireland back to a dark and bloody past. Their actions are rejected by the overwhelming majority of people right from all parts of the community," he said.
Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson said it had been "an evil act, carried out by enemies of the whole community".
Dissidents And shadow Northern Ireland secretary Shaun Woodward said: "We all have a duty to stop those behind it from succeeding."
Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, said his party was determined that those responsible would not set back the progress of the peace and political process.
Prayers are being said at vigil masses throughout Omagh on Saturday night for the policeman.
In March 2009, a police officer was shot dead as he answered a distress call in Craigavon, County Armagh.
Dissident republican group, the Continuity IRA, claimed responsibility for the attack. Constable Stephen Carroll, 48, was married and from Banbridge.
He was murdered two days after the Real IRA shot dead two soldiers outside Massereene Barracks in Antrim.
The Continuity IRA is one of a number of dissident republican paramilitary groups opposed to the peace process. They have carried out bomb and gun attacks on civilians and the security forces.
There is believed to be cross-over and co-operation between the Continuity IRA and the larger Real IRA, which bombed Omagh in 1998.
The car bomb killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured hundreds more.
Do you live in the area of the attack? Send us your comments using the form below.
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