Dale Cregan remanded in custody after death of two female police officers

Suspect has been detained in custody and charged with four murders

Dale Cregan, a suspected murderer who turned himself into police after the deaths of two female police officers on Tuesday has been charged with murder and remanded in custody.

29-year-old Cregan was charged with four murders last night - those of policewomen Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone as well as Mark Short who was killed in May and his father David Short who was killed in August.

He is also charged with attempted murder of four others.

Cregan spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth, and armed police were present during the court hearing.

Police have also been given more time to question a second man, Stephen Garvey, 28, who was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the deaths of PCs Bone and Hughes.

A 22-year-old man in Merseyside, was arrested and bailed under the Communications Act 2003 after an offensive Facebook page praising Cregan's actions was set up after the deaths of Bone and Hughes.

Assistant chief constable Garry Shewan said: 'In the last 48 hours, since the tragic death of our two officers, there has been a huge amount of support from the public through our website and on social media.

'However, there are also a small number of people who have posted malicious and upsetting comments online, causing outrage to many people and prompting them to ask us what we are doing to deal with these people.'

An online book of condolence can be signed here.

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