Policewomen were lured to their deaths

Reporter

Wednesday 19 September 2012

TWO female police officers who were gunned down in the street were lured to their deaths in an ambush as they answered a fake call-out to a burglary.

SHOCK: Dale Cregan used a gun and a grenade in the attack.

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VICTORIA WELDON

Constables Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, had been sent to what appeared to be a routine call when it is believed a man opened fire with a gun and a grenade in a brutal attack which has shocked the nation.

Dale Cregan, 29, who handed himself into a nearby police station in Greater Manchester shortly after yesterday's killings, had been the subject of a police manhunt following the murders of a father and son.Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Chief Constable, Sir Peter Fahy, said it appeared a burglary had been reported and then attacks carried out in a deliberate "act of cold-blooded murder".He said the motive for the attack was "impossible to fathom".Speaking at a press conference at GMP headquarters, he paid tribute to the officers and said Miss Bone had died at the scene, while Miss Hughes died a short time later.The police chief described Miss Hughes as a "chatterbox" and a "great bobby" who was always smiling and said Miss Bone was a "calm, gentle woman" and an "excellent bobby" who had been in the middle of planning her wedding.He said: "Clearly we are devastated today by the loss of two of our officers."This is one of the darkest days in the history of the Greater Manchester Police if not for the police service overall, because we have lost two deeply loved and valued colleagues."Sir Peter added: "We believe a man was in a house in Abbey Gardens overnight, and at some point this morning has either himself made a call or had somebody else make a call reporting a burglary."This particular address was not known to us. So as would be routine, two unarmed officers were sent to the scene."When they arrived, it appears that a man emerged into the road and killed these two officers. A firearm was used, a grenade was also used."He added that fellow officers had been left shattered by what happened.Cregan, who only has one eye, was wanted in connection with separate gun and grenade attacks that killed David and Mark Short. Four other men have been arrested in connection with the deaths.David Short, 46, was killed at his home on August 10, while Mark Short, 23, was gunned down at a pub on May 25. A £50,000 reward had been offered for information leading to Cregan's arrest. A man and a woman from the house in Hattersley where the killings took place have been helping police with their inquiries.Cregan is being questioned on suspicion of the murder of the two police officers and also the murders of David and Mark Short.Prime Minister David Cameron called the killings an "act of pure evil".

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Policewomen were lured to their deaths

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