Manchester police killings: Suspect was on bail

One-eyed suspect in Manchester police killings was out on bail at time of fatal attack...

13:32 19 September 2012

The main suspect in the killing of two female police officers in Greater Manchester has been confirmed by police sources as being on bail for another crime at the time. 

 

After responding to a false burglary report, PCs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, were killed in a gun and grenade attack. 

 

One officer died at the scene while the other was critically injured and died afterwards. 

 

It has been revealed that Bone was planning her wedding. 

 

Dale Cregan, 29, is the main suspect and is being held on suspicion of their murders as well as two others. 

 

The distinctive looking one-eyed suspect was on bail at the time following questioning over the shooting of Mark Short in a Manchester pub. 

 

In a statement, Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy confirmed that wasn't enough evidence to charge Cregan for the Cotton Tree pub shooting and he had to be released following his arrest in June this year.

 

Fahy told the BBC: "It is absolutely normal in complex crime inquiries that when people are arrested there are occasions where there is insufficient evidence available for them to be charged.

 

"In those circumstances suspects have to be released on bail as there are strict time limits covering how long suspects can be held in custody without charge.

 

"That is exactly what happened in this case."

 

Witnesses to this crime which claimed two police officers heard 13 gunshots and an explosion in Tameside on Tuesday. 

 

According to multiple reports Cregan walked into a police station and was then detained. He is now being questioned over the deaths of the police officers as well as David and Mark Short. 

 

Ian Hanson, chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, said: "What we've got are two young girls who went out this morning and they've got an absolute right to come home to their loved ones.

 

"This is cold-blooded murder, the slaughter of the innocents."

 

Prime Minister David Cameron called the killings "pure evil". 

 

Since the slaughter, the debate for having routinely armed police officers on the street has been reignited as have calls for the death penalty.