man released from jail, shoots 2 the next day, then a cop the following day

[Amby 490]

anyone else following this story? my neighbor said it's very unusual for this type of gun crime to happen over here.

Armed officers are searching abandoned buildings, woods and fields in a small town in north-east England in the hunt for suspected gunman Raoul Moat.

People had been told to stay indoors amid fears that the former bouncer fled on foot after abandoning his car in Rothbury, Northumberland.

Residents are now being allowed to cross the cordon around the town.

The 37-year-old has been on the run since allegedly shooting three people, one fatally, over the weekend.

It has also been revealed that two men taken hostage by him have been found and arrested for conspiracy to murder.

An exclusion zone was in force for much of Tuesday, with dozens of armed officers drafted in from neighbouring forces and police searching all vehicles leaving the town.

Road blocks remain in place, although residents stranded outside are now being allowed to return to their homes.

Det Ch Supt Neil Adamson said Moat had not been located, but added: "I am confident that with the support of the public and the efforts of our staff we are closing the net."

The main route into Rothbury, along a scenic road from the A1, was shut a couple of miles from the rural town.

Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim said: "Members of the public within this area are advised to remain indoors and await further instructions.

"Anyone considering visiting Rothbury is also advised not to travel at this stage.

"People will see armed officers on the streets. This is a precautionary measure to protect and reassure them.

"Rest assured everything is being done to bring this to a conclusion."

A former girlfriend said she could be the reason Moat chose to hide in Rothbury.

Yvette Foreman, 35, dated him when they were both in their early 20s and the pair spent weekends camping in the woods around her home in the town.

She said Moat, who locals said had been living in a makeshift camp nearby, could survive undetected in the countryside surrounding the town for days.

The police operation began when Moat's ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, 22, was shot and her boyfriend, Chris Brown, 29, was killed in Birtley, Gateshead, on Saturday.

Pc David Rathband, 42, was also shot in his patrol car in Newcastle on Sunday.

The father-of-two has undergone surgery after suffering wounds to his face and upper body, and is described as "in remarkable spirits given what he has gone through".

Miss Stobbart's condition is said to be "stable and improving".

Moat had just been released from Durham Prison after an 18-week sentence for assault.

Officers had been warned that he may have been planning to harm his former girlfriend and Northumbria Police said they had referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

At a press conference it was revealed that on Monday night police had asked the media for a blackout on news that Moat was believed to have kidnapped two men after the shootings on Saturday.

Mr Adamson said: "I can now inform the public that throughout this operation and investigation we have been dealing with a complex, fast moving and challenging hostage situation.

"At an early stage it was believed that Moat may have taken two hostages around the time of the shootings in Birtley.

"We have been dealing with this matter in accordance with the national guidelines in relation to kidnap.

"Throughout this time there has been a significant risk to the lives of the two men."

He confirmed that the two men found in Rothbury had been arrested.

A 49-page handwritten letter apparently from Moat to police declared war on them.

In the document, which was also handed to The Sun newspaper, Moat said: "Last night I called 999 and declared war on Northumbria Police before shooting an officer on the West End A69 roundabout in his T5.

"Rang again and told them they're gonna pay for what they've done to me and Sam.

"I went straight but they couldn't let it go.

"The public need not fear me but the police should as I won't stop till I'm dead."

Police confirmed that he had only one previous conviction for common assault, and had been arrested on 12 separate occasions, which resulted in him being charged with seven separate offences.

Isabelle Wilson, from Rothbury, found the car believed to have been used by Moat.

"We saw the car last night when we were walking our dogs," she said.

"We noticed the registration number and when I heard the news this morning I said to my husband I was sure that was the car. He went back to check then we called the police."

Moat is described as 6ft 3in tall and of muscular build. Family members said that he used body-building steroids.

These have been linked to aggressive behaviour. His family have also said he was prone to "eruptions of anger".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/10523318.stm

[_Simpson_ 250]

wait a second I thought guns were illegal in the UK.

Edited July 6, 2010 by _Simpson_

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The guy is a nutter.

[Amby 490]

I don't understand why they charged the hostages unless they weren't really hostages? Anyone?

[IndigoSkies 168]

  On 7/6/2010 at 6:15 PM, _Simpson_ said:

Wait a second I thought guns were illegal in the UK.

It is. That's why gun crime in UK makes international news. But in America, it's just five o'clock update on your local channel because gun crime in America is so prevalent. Guns are so easy to obtain in America. You can actually buy a gun at Wal-Mart and it will be sold to you by a teenage associate who flunked high school. Edited July 6, 2010 by IndigoSkies

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It doesn't sound like they were hostages - as they've been charged with attempted murder. Sounds like they were helping the guy; and there was a bit in the news that several people knew where the guy was hiding out.

[Amby 490]

  On 7/6/2010 at 6:21 PM, Its a MADHOUSE said:

It doesn't sound like they were hostages - as they've been charged with attempted murder. Sounds like they were helping the guy; and there was a bit in the news that several people knew where the guy was hiding out.

oh I guess I missed that bit about them knowing where he was. on the news the guy called them hostages so it confused me. I thought it was a bit odd.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Probably because the news was reporting on rumours as the police operation is releasing limited information.

[Kevin and 10]

  On 7/6/2010 at 6:20 PM, IndigoSkies said:

It is. That's why gun crime in UK makes international news. But in America, it's just five o'clock update on your local channel because gun crime in America is so prevalent. Guns are so easy to obtain in America. You can actually buy a gun at Wal-Mart and it will be sold to you by a teenage associate who flunked high school.

Wal-mart doesn't sell firearms anymore.

[Amby 490]

  On 7/6/2010 at 6:26 PM, Its a MADHOUSE said:

Probably because the news was reporting on rumours as the police operation is releasing limited information.

it was the guy doing the press conference for the northumbria police. it wasn't the news anchor.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Oh dear - someone is preparing to turn the story into yet another rant about the virtue of guns in polite society.

[Darnell 8,479]

Wow. Declared war on the police, won't stop till he's dead.

Time for some influx of North Ireland Troops ? Hope someone catches him today or tomorrow.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

  On 7/6/2010 at 6:33 PM, Amby said:

it was the guy doing the press conference for the northumbria police. it wasn't the news anchor.

Oh that's right. Yeah I guess the people who were hostages were actually helping the guy. Someone as nutty as that probably has equally nutty mates.

[_Simpson_ 250]

  On 7/6/2010 at 6:20 PM, IndigoSkies said:

It is. That's why gun crime in UK makes international news. But in America, it's just five o'clock update on your local channel because gun crime in America is so prevalent. Guns are so easy to obtain in America. You can actually buy a gun at Wal-Mart and it will be sold to you by a teenage associate who flunked high school.

Your comparing apples and oranges. UK 60+ million USA 300+

What doesnt make national news is the lives that are saved because of guns.

[Amby 490]

  On 7/6/2010 at 6:34 PM, Darnell said:

Wow. Declared war on the police, won't stop till he's dead.

Time for some influx of North Ireland Troops ? Hope someone catches him today or tomorrow.

it all started because his ex was terrified of him so she told him she was dating a cop