Cops killed in gun and grenade attack after being lured to their deaths

Gunned down ... Nicola Hughes, left, and Fiona Bone

TWO female police officers were killed in a gun and grenade attack after being lured to a property by one of Britain's most wanted men, senior police said today.

Nicola Hughes, 23, and 32-year-old Fiona Bone were killed while attending a "routine" burglary call-out at an address in Hattersley, Greater Manchester.
Cops said fugitive Dale Cregan - wanted over a double murder probe - lobbed a grenade at the unarmed officers and gunned them down.
One-eyed Cregan, 29, then handed himself in to a police station where a blue BMW car was seen being checked by a bomb squad officer after the shocking incident in Tameside, Greater Manchester.

Arrest ... Dale Cregan

He was being hunted in connection with separate gun and grenade attacks that killed a father and son.
Greater Manchester Police said officers were "shattered" over the double killing of Miss Hughes and Miss Bone - who was soon to be married.
Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahey said today that Cregan or someone else made a call alleging a burglary had been committed at the address in Hattersley where they were attacked.
He said that Cregan emerged from the property and threw the grenade before opening fire.

Checks ... bomb squad officer probes blue BMW at police station

He said Cregan’s motive for the attack was “impossible to fathom”.
One of the officers died at the scene. The second was critically injured and died in hospital.
Sir Peter said Miss Bone was a “calm, gentle woman”, an “excellent bobby” and had been in the middle of planning her wedding.
He also paid tribute to Miss Hughes, describing her as a “chatterbox” and a “great bobby” who was “always smiling”.
It is the first time two female officers have been killed on duty.

Tragedy ... police behind cordons at scene of Manchester shooting

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The Chief Constable said it was “routine” to send unarmed officers to a burglary call.
“We believe that Dale Cregan was in a house in Abbey Gardens overnight, and at some point this morning has either himself has made a call or had somebody else make a call reporting a burglary,” he said.
“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 Cregan emerged into the road and killed these two officers. A firearm was used, a grenade was also used.”
Sir Peter continued: “Clearly we are devastated today by the loss of two of our officers.

Wanted man ... poster offering £50,000 for info on Dale Cregan

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“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, because they are part of our team, policing is very much a family.
“But also because of the huge efforts that officers had been making to arrest and detain Dale Cregan. Obviously the officers involved in that inquiry are shattered by this outcome.”
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan, said: “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.”

Killed ... David Short, left, and son Mark, right

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In an earlier statement, the force said: “Medical teams were quickly on the scene to provide treatment and armed response vehicles have secured the area.
“A short time later, 29-year-old Dale Cregan was arrested after he walked into a police station in Tameside."
The last female officer to be killed on duty was PC Sharon Beshenivsky who was killed when she and a colleague tried to stop armed robbers in Bradford in November 2005.
Prime Minister David Cameron described it as “a shocking reminder of the debt we owe to those who put themselves in danger to keep us safe and secure”.

Mourning ... flag at half-mast at Greater Manchester Police Headquarters

And the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sir Hugh Orde, said it was “deeply sad news” for the police service.
Home Secretary Theresa May today 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.
“My thoughts are with the families of the officers and their colleagues at Greater Manchester Police.”
A £50,000 reward had been 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.

Chief Constable ... Sir Peter Fahy of Greater Manchester Police

Pictures were circulated nationwide of Cregan.
David Short was killed at his home in Folkestone Road East, Clayton, Manchester, on August 10, while Mark was gunned down at the Cotton Tree pub in nearby 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.

Shooting ... Cotton Tree Inn in Manchester where Mark Short was shot dead

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Four men have been charged in connection with his murder and are due to enter pleas at Manchester Crown Court in November.
Earlier this month 33-year-old Anthony Wilkinson, pictured with Cregan on a "Wanted" poster also appeared at Manchester Crown Court charged with the gun and grenade murder of David Short.
The scene around the shooting in Abbey Gardens was cordoned off with a heavy police presence.
A fleet of vans and ambulances were parked at the top of the road as a helicopter hovered overhead.

Explosion ... people flee from house of David Short after grenade attack that killed him

Traffic was blocked from coming on to the estate up to half a mile away.
A 27-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said her ex-boyfriend witnessed the shootings.
She said it happened outside the address of a man who, she said, knew Cregan.
She said: “He (her ex-boyfriend) was a bit shook up when I saw him.”

Search ... forensics officers outside address in Manchester

She said he was walking back from the doctor’s when he heard someone he knew shout to him, adding: “Then someone has come outside the house ... and shot two officers and then he threw a grenade in the garden.
“He (her ex-boyfriend) said the officers hit the floor.
“Cregan then got into a silver BMW and drove off but he must have then gone on foot shortly after because my friend saw him on Stringer Avenue, which is only down the road.”
It is believed that Cregan handed himself in at Hyde police station.
Local window cleaner Warren Shepherd was on his rounds in Hattersley, close to where the officers were shot.

Evidence ... shooter is believed to have 'lured police to address'

“I just heard gun shots, bang, bang, bang - around ten of them, then a pause and a big explosion,” he said.
“I went around the back of the houses to see what happened and there was a police car that looked empty.
“There was people, neighbours stood around there and one of my customers said, ’They’ve been shot! The police officers have been shot!’
“Everybody was in shock and couldn’t believe it.
“It must have been a matter of minutes, more police cars came and an ambulance came.”

'Routine' ... police officer walks past an armoured Land Rover at scene of shooting

Mr Shepherd said he went back to his van but could see the aftermath through a gap between two houses.
He added: “I saw one body covered up and going into the back of the ambulance.
“I saw another body on a trolley and it looked like they were doing heart compressions on the body, and I had had enough by then.
“It was like something on the movies.
“It’s just so sad for the family of the two police women.
“Both lost their lives just doing their jobs and my heart goes out to their families and I know people around here will feel the same.”

'Shocking reminder' ... David Cameron paid tributes to police officers today