Raoul Moat has threatened the public as well as the police
Fugitive gunman Raoul Moat has threatened the public as well as the police, it has now emerged.
As the manhunt entered its sixth day, Northumbria Police said there was a heightened danger to the public and warned that the search of the countryside around Rothbury where Moat is believed to be hiding would take time.
Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim told a press conference: "Information has now emerged that Mr Moat has made threats towards the wider public."
She said the unforgiving terrain of Northumbria was helping Moat evade searchers, with the sprawling countryside offering many opportunities for the former doorman to hide.
Detective chief superintendent Neil Adamson, revealed that two more men were arrested in the Rothbury area on Wednesday night on suspicion of assisting an offender. Two other alleged accomplices appeared before Newcastle magistrates on Thursday morning, accused of being part of Moat's conspiracy to hunt down and kill policemen.
Mrs Sim said the public, as well as police, could now be at risk from Moat, saying: "From the outset we stressed Mr Moat's threats are largely directed towards police. Information has now emerged that Mr Moat has made threats towards the wider public.
"I want to stress we have the resources and resilience to deal with this situation and my officers are out in large numbers to provide reassurance and protection."
"Our intention remains to apprehend Mr Moat safely and bring this to an end", she said, adding: "I spoke to many of my officers in the area yesterday. Their determination and focus to bring this to a conclusion remains unwavering."
DCS Adamson said: "There is information that has come to our attention that has led us to conclude there is a wider threat to the public.
The senior detective said the two new arrests of two men suspected of helping Moat were made "in the vicinity of Rothbury" early on Wednesday evening. He said: "Both men are currently in custody and we are pursuing a range of inquiries in relation to this matter."
By The Press Association
