Police killings: Arrest over ‘malicious’ Facebook page
A 22-year-old man is arrested after a “malicious and offensive” Facebook page was set up following the deaths of two female police officers in Manchester.
The man, from Netherley, Merseyside, is being questioned over a “tribute” which went online within hours of PCs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, dying in a gun and grenade attack in Hattersley, Tameside, on Tuesday.
Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said some people had chosen to use social media in a “very malicious and offensive way”.
More than one Facebook page has been set up in praise of the suspect held by police in connection with the attack.
The offensive pages contrast greatly from the huge outpouring of goodwill and public support.
I know the families too have been taking real solace from reading the positive stories and the positive message of support. Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan
The force has received 33,500 messages on its online book of condolence, more than 21,000 have been posted on its Facebook page, and more than 1.3 million people have viewed the tribute to the officers on Facebook.
Assistant Chief Constable Shewan added that the “heart-warming” public support in the wake of the murders “has meant a great deal to Greater Manchester police, to its officers, and to all of the partners and also to the communities”.
“I know the families too have been taking real solace from reading the positive stories and the positive message of support being expressed by ordinary members of the public here in Greater Manchester and across the UK,” he said.
Police officers from across the country have also offered to provide cover so officers from the Greater Manchester force can attend the funerals of the two officers, he added.
Read more: Violent crimes - hand grenades on Britain's streets
‘Watershed moment’
The force warned of the threat from a long-standing feud between two criminal families in the area and has issued Osman warnings – notices given to people under threat of being murdered or seriously injured – to “a large number of individuals”.
Tuesday’s murders of the officers were a “watershed” moment, Mr Shewan said, adding that the force’s message was: “Enough is enough. This has to end.”
He added that despite everything the force has done to tackle gun crime, “tragedies still do occur”.
“Tuesday’s events simply make us spur on to higher and greater efforts.”