Police: Raoul Moat threat ‘to wider public’

Moat, 37, is wanted after his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, her new partner Chris Brown – who was killed – and police officer Pc David Rathband were shot on Tyneside at the weekend.

Police had previously suggested the former nightclub bouncer, who had been released from Durham prison last Thursday, had only posed a threat to Northumbria Police officers.

However at a news conference, temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim revealed others could now also be targeted.

“Information has now emerged that Mr Moat has made threats towards the wider public.” she said.

This evening, in an updated police briefing, they warned the public not to take any unnecessary risks and added that people should not go to Rothbury if their business was not urgent. They also warned walkers not to go outside the town and that the public should not to walk on their own in secluded areas.

However, they urged that life in the town should go on as necessary, in part due to the heavy police presence.

At a public meeting with Rothbury residents, police tried to reassure worried parents that they should continue to bring their children to school as normal and that schools would remain open as there was nothing to suggest that Moat would target schools.

However, after a direct request from a member of the public, temporary Chief Constable Sim agreed to place a police presence at schools to ensure the safety of the pupils.

Channel 4 News Chief Correspondent Alex Thomson says the pressure is piling on the police

After the morning's appearances of two alleged Moat accomplices at Newcastle magistrates this morning, comes news of two further arrests.

Two men were lifted late yesterday in the Rothbury area, suspected of harbouring or helping Mr Moat. Police stress this is a serious criminal offence.

But the temporary chief constable says Raoul Moat now poses a general threat to the public. I wish I could say why. But either side of the on-record press conference, we were ushered into off-record briefings.

I cannot tell therefore, why Mr Moat is now apparently minded to threaten the public, beyond his former acquaintances and the Northumbria Police.

The cops are under huge pressure and genuinely want to be as open as possible. They have to protect the public and they have to disclose this threat. But disclosing why might blow the manhunt and further endanger the public.

The police are under real pressure.

Not least because they accept what I put to them earlier that it is possible the whole Rothbury episode -Lexus car and the tent - was an elaborate hoax and Raoul Moat was never here at all.

DCS Neil Adamson admitted to me this morning that it is possible that Rothbury is a hoax. Though he personally thinks he was and still is in the area.

Another of Raoul Moat's former and current associates have told me they are adamant that he never went near Rothbury.

Now back up in Rothbury again and the wider threat seems to be taken in its stride by the town. Though I'm hearing there'll be some kind of public meeting in the town this evening perhaps.

Earlier police also revealed two men had been arrested last night in the Rothbury area on suspicion of assisting an offender. Two other men were charged earlier this morning with conspiracy to commit murder.

The officer leading the manhunt, detective chief superintendent Neil Adamson also said he wanted to speak to a person who had called police at 10.30pm last night to suggest a motor vehicle that was potentially involved in the case. He refused to give any further information.

However officers still believe Moat is still in the vicinity of Rothbury, where police had imposed a two mile exclusion area on Tuesday.

“Based on all the information we have this time. We still believe Mr Moat is in the Rothbury vicinity.

“I have no doubt from the inquiry to date that Mr Moat has received help from other people.

“I want to make it clear to everyone that anyone found assisting, harbouring or in any way helping Mr Moat will be arrested and prosecuted.

“There are numerous new lines of inquiry that have come to light in the past 24 hours.”

CCTV images of Raoul Moat were also released before the news conference.

The pictures show him with a distinctive mohican-style haircut in a Newcastle shop last Friday – the day before he is suspected of shooting his ex-partner and her boyfriend.

He is wearing a tight-fitting bright orange T-shirt with dark jeans and white trainers.

Police refused to provide any further details about the source of the shop, saying: “There are various reasons why I don’t want to publicise the specific shop. Least of all is which you guys will probably all descend upon it.

“I think we afford those individuals a degree of privacy, but we are grateful for the support of the individual premises and the provision of the information and images which we’ve made available to you.”

Earlier two men had appeared before magistrates charged with conspiracy to commit murder and possessing a firearm with intent.

Karl Ness, 26, from Dudley in North Tyneside, and Qhuram Awan, 23, from Blyth in Northumberland were remanded in custody to appear before Newcastle Crown Court on 22 July.

Ness and Awan had arrested on Tuesday after being found walking in Rothbury village where an intense police hunt is still underway for Moat.

Ness and Awan were found as police wrestled with what they said was a “complex hostage situation” with detectives fearing Moat had kidnapped the two men.

From Newcastle Magistrates’ Court Channel 4 News reporter Darshna Soni said: “Court number 2 was overflowing with journalists this morning, as the case against Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan was outlined.

“There has been much confusion about the alleged role of these two men in Raoul Moat’s conspiracy to commit murder. Initially, it was reported that they may have been hostages.

“It is clear that police believe the men were “part and parcel” of Moat’s plan. It’s claimed that they supplied him with the gun he used in the shootings. It’s also alleged that Ness was with Moat when he shot his former girlfriend and killed her new partner at the weekend.

“Some of their family members were in court to support them. After the hearing, Mr Awan’s sisters told us that they had “full confidence” in the justice system and that he will be exonerated.

“Also outside court, we heard for the first time from the brother of one of Moat’s alleged victims.

“Darren Rathband said that police officer David has served the Northumbria community for 11 years and that he is still keen to do so. He described his brother as an inspiration and said that the family were extremely proud of him.

“He said: ‘My brother is not only an inspiration to me but he should be an inspiration to everybody involved in this investigation. He wants to thank Northumbria officers and all the other officers across the country who’ve come up here to resolve this incident’.”