Net closes on Moat as police arrest two 'hostages'

THE "net was closing" on gunman Raoul Moat today after police detained two men they had feared he was holding hostage.

The men, found walking in a village north of Newcastle today, were actually detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

Detectives said Moat was still at large but a car he is believed to have been driving had also been located in the village, Rothbury, where police set up an exclusion zone.

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Police had asked media for a news blackout on their hostage fears last night but that was dramatically lifted at a news conference this morning.

Detectives had feared fugitive Moat kidnapped two men after shooting his ex-partner and killing her new lover.

Following his release from jail, the bodybuilder and former nightclub doorman went on the run after gunning down Sam Stobbart, karate instructor Chris Brown and Pc David Rathband in cold blood.

Moat, 37, a steroid-abusing father-of-three, had been thought to have kidnapped the two men - a white man and an Asian man - as he evaded justice.

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In a series of taunts to police in a letter and telephone calls Moat boasted of kidnapping.

The two men were held today while walking alongside a public road near Rothbury.

Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Adamson, who is leading the manhunt, said: "I can confirm that both men are the people that we believe were the hostages.

"Both have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. Both are currently in police custody.

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"At this time Mr Moat has not been located. I am confident, however, that with the support of the public and the continuing efforts of our staff that we are closing the net on Mr Moat. Operational activity is continuing as we speak."

Mr Adamson made another direct appeal to Moat.

He said: "Mr Moat, I have a further message for you. I have made a number of requests to you to contact police and hand yourself in. That opportunity still exists.

"Please remember what I have said to you before. Do not leave your children with distressing memories of their father. You still have a future. Give yourself up now."

Mr Adamson revealed for the first time that police had been dealing with a "complex, fast-moving and challenging hostage situation".

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A media blackout was imposed last night after information emerged that Moat was holding hostages.

The senior detective said: "At an early stage it was believed Mr Moat may have taken two hostages around the time of the shooting in Birtley.

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

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

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"Shortly after 10am this morning, one of a continuing number of firearms operations was progressed in the Rothbury area of Northumberland.

"This followed some key information from the public, which led us to recover the black Lexus car publicised yesterday.

"This car was unoccupied when found.

"Intelligence led us to conduct an operation, during which we arrested two men who were on foot walking along a public road near Rothbury in Northumberland."

Moat, from the Fenham area of Newcastle, declared "war" on the police and vowed not to stop killing "till I'm dead" in a letter sent to Northumbria Police.

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The former nightclub bouncer blamed the force for ruining his life in the 49-page handwritten confession, which was obtained by The Sun newspaper.

Headed "Raoul Moat Murder Statement 4/7/10", the document - written in capital letters and handed to a friend in Newcastle - warned that police would "pay for what they've done" to him and Miss Stobbart.

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

Northumbria Police Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim said: "Can I stress to the public that Moat is still at large and we need to locate him.

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"As a precautionary measure, we are closing down a geographic area near Rothbury. This is a two-mile radial exclusion zone on the ground.

"In addition, there is a five-mile aerial exclusion zone to a height of 5,000ft.

"Numerous resources are being deployed to the area to reassure the public and carry out an effective search.

"The public may see some disruption and I ask for their co-operation.

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"Members of the public in the 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 street. This is a precautionary measure to protect and reassure them. Rest assured everything is being done to get this to a conclusion.

"May I also remind you that this is an ongoing situation and I must stress that there are other inquiries ongoing within the Northumbria area."

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At least five armed police vehicles surrounded Moat's Lexus, which was parked on an industrial estate beside the River Coquet to the west of the village.

About a mile away, along the wooded valley, a police helicopter hovered.

Six armed officers in protective clothes could be seen patrolling the area in a convoy.

Graham Noble, of Thrum Mill Farm, Rothbury, said his wife Debbie, father-in-law and two young sons were currently at the farm, which is within the exclusion zone. They have been advised to stay inside.

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Mr Noble admitted he was anxious but said: "Hopefully things will be OK."

He said the Lexus had been in the village all day yesterday, adding: "If they had released the details earlier, somebody would have said."

Answering questions from the media, Mr Adamson said there had been eight separate police operations so far during the hunt for Moat.

He said one man was arrested when police raided a property, the home of a former bouncer, in Wrekenton, Gateshead.

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Mr Adamson said police had "reason to believe" Moat was still in the Rothbury area, but were not making any "leaps of faith either way".

Showing some frustration with reporters, the senior officer said there was a lot about the inquiry that he could not discuss.

He said: "What I want to stress to the wider public is I would love to be in a position to let the wider public know what is going on behind the scenes. There is a huge amount of effort going on.

"The public see our activity through you as a medium to communicate what we are doing.

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"There is an awful lot happening in an investigation that is taking a lot of resources and co-ordination. I just want to stress that fact.

"I cannot explain for obvious reasons, but there is an awful lot of work going on.

"If I can finish by saying the police priority still is, and always has been, to locate Moat and deal with him and that is our number one objective."

Mr Adamson added that no firearms have been recovered and declined to discuss the arrest of the two men in more detail.

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