From the Sky News website:
Two female police officers have died after being shot during an incident involving one of the country’s most wanted murder suspects, Dale Cregan, in Manchester.
Cregan, 29, was being sought in connection with separate gun and grenade attacks that killed a father and son.
The officers, both female and unarmed, were injured as they attended what police have called a “routine incident” at Abbey Gardens in Hattersley, Greater Manchester, just before 11am.
One officer died at the scene and the other died later in hospital.
There were reports the officers had been in a local supermarket shortly before the incident. Police say they were responding to reports of shots being fired.
As news of the second death came, the assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, Garry Shewan, said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of a second police officer following an incident in Tameside this morning.
“A long and dark shadow has been cast across Greater Manchester and my thoughts are with the officers’ family, friends and colleagues.
“We will be doing everything we can to support them over the coming days and weeks.”
Shortly after the policewomen were shot, Cregan walked into a police station in Hyde and gave himeself up. He has now been arrested on suspicion of murdering the police officers – as well as the original two counts.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police added: “Medical teams were quickly on the scene to provide treatment and armed response vehicles have secured the area.
“We are currently working to inform the families of these officers.
“A short time later, 29-year-old Dale Cregan was arrested after he walked into a police station in Tameside.”
Stuart Littleford, the editor of local newspaper Saddleworth News, told Sky News local residents had reported hearing “a number of shots fired”.
Witnesses say up to 13 shots were fired during the incident. There are also reports of an explosion and of police officers running away from the scene in tears. An army bomb desposal vehicle was also at the scene.
A neighbour, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Manchester Evening News that there had been suspicious activity in the area recently.
Assistant chief constable Shewan, described it as “a tragic day for the whole force”.
He said: “This is a heartbreaking time for the officers’ families and colleagues and our thoughts are with them.
“This is a tragic day for the whole force and we are currently piecing together exactly what happened this morning, which has led to one of our officers being murdered and another lying in hospital fighting for their life.
“I understand that the community will be fearful as they hear news of what has happened this morning. We have armed officers patrolling the area and we will aim to keep people updated as much as we can.”
Home Secretary Theresa May said: “This is a deeply shocking incident and a terrible reminder of the risks that police officers face every day to keep our communities safe.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as “tragic and deeply distressing news”.
A £50,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of Cregan who police wanted to speak to about the murders of David Short, 46, and his son Mark, 23.
David Short was killed at his home in Folkestone Road East, Clayton, on August 10, while Mark was gunned down at the Cotton Tree pub in Droylsden on May 25.
A gunman walked into the pub and fired shots which injured three other men. A post-mortem examination showed Mark Short died from a gunshot wound to the neck.
Ash Rathband, whose police officer father David was shot and blinded by gun maniac Raoul Moat, called for police to be armed after today’s killings.
PC Rathband was found hanging at his home in Blyth, Northumberland, in February, having been blasted in July 2010 while on duty, sitting unarmed in a traffic patrol car.
His son tweeted: “It’s time for police to be armed in my opinion.
“Yet again another awful incident”
His view was echoed by Pc Rathband’s twin Darren, who said: “Give them more than a bloody piece of plastic and some spray. Tragic!”
Four men have already been charged in connection with Mark Short’s murder and are due to enter pleas at Manchester Crown Court in November.
Earlier this month a 33-year-old man also appeared at Manchester Crown Court charged with the gun and grenade murder of David Short.
The President of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sir Hugh Orde, said: “The death of two female police officers in Greater Manchester is deeply sad news for the police service.
“The two unarmed officers were responding to a routine call when faced with a dangerous and deadly situation.
“Whenever police officers and staff lose a colleague that loss is felt right across the police family. The thoughts of everyone in policing are with colleagues in Greater Manchester Police, family and friends of the two officers at this time.”
