Cregan Facebook 'tribute' arrest
12:11pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013
Dale Cregan is continuing to be questioned over the murders of two women police officers (GMP/PA)
A man is under arrest after a shocking Facebook page was set up lauding suspected police double killer Dale Cregan as a "legend".
The "tribute" 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 morning.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) announced the arrest as officers continued to question Cregan, 29, on suspicion of murder. He was detained after walking into a nearby police station after the attack.
As tens of thousands of tributes poured in from across the nation for the fallen officers, more than one Facebook page was set up in praise of the suspect held by police. One was titled Dale Cregan OBE, with internet "trolls" posting messages claiming the alleged killer was a "hero".
The man arrested is understood to be from the Merseyside area.
A warrant of further detention was obtained on Wednesday night for Cregan and is due to expire at 9am on Friday..
A 28-year-old man who was arrested on Wednesday in the Hattersley area on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder also remains in police custody.
The Facebook arrest comes after Greater Manchester Police thanked the public and said officers took heart from the huge outpouring of goodwill and public support.
The force has received 33,500 messages on its online book of condolence, more than 21,000 have been posted on the force's Facebook page and more than 1.3 million people have viewed the tribute to the officers on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the BBC has pulled the final episode of its drama Good Cop following the murders. The drama, starring former Hollyoaks and Luther actor Warren Brown, features scenes of a violent attack on a female police officer. A new transmission date will be confirmed in due course.
