Fugitive gunman now poses danger to the wider public, warn police

Senior investigators believe friends have helped the former doorman stay a step ahead of one of the biggest police manhunts in living memory.

It had been thought his main grievance was directed towards the police, but it has now emerged that members of the public could be at risk.

As the search stretched into its sixth day yesterday, police admitted the rugged terrain around the remote village of Rothbury in Northumberland was helping Moat avoid capture.

Detectives also revealed that two men were being questioned on suspicion of assisting the suspect after they were arrested in the village area on Wednesday.

Two other alleged accomplices, Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan, appeared before magistrates yesterday accused of being part of Moat's conspiracy to hunt down and kill policemen.

Police released closed circuit TV images of Moat captured at a branch of B&Q in Newcastle on Friday, just hours before he shot his ex-girlfriend and killed her new lover before going on to declare "war" on police.

The up-to-date images show Moat with a distinctive mohican-style haircut and tight-fitting bright orange T-shirt.

Det Chief Supt Neil Adamson, who is leading the inquiry, said all the "intelligence, information and advice" police have points to Moat still being in the Rothbury area.