The crew had to be taken off shift

It happened shortly before 0600 GMT on Saturday in the Glendoor Wood area of the town.

Staff were treating two patients who were in the back of the ambulance when another man attacked them, apparently without motive.

Alan Cahill, the divisional ambulance manager, said the injuries suffered were not serious.

However, the crew had to be taken off shift.

"When that crew went off duty this morning that left Omagh... not able to respond quickly to another request," he said.

"It would require the redeployment of another ambulance from another station.

"This meant it could be another 20 minutes delay on responding to a life-threatening call."