British policewoman shot dead

November 18, 2005

Two policewomen were shot in Bradford city centre today — one fatally. The surviving officer has been hospitalized in Bradford Royal Infirmary. The officer who died is believed to have only joined the police force within the past two years. The officers have not yet been named.

The officers are believed to have been responding to an alarm call from a personal attack alarm at "Universal Express Travel Agents" 116 - 120 Morley Street at around 3:25 GMT.

The murder took place on Morley Street, which is in the University and College part of City, at the crossroads with Great Horton Lane are the main student entertainments and night clubs. The Alhambra theatre is at the bottom half of the street. The area is heavily covered by CCTV, which may help the investigation.

Home secretary Charles Clarke said, "While incidents of this sort are mercifully rare, they serve to remind us of the risks and dangers police officers face every day in their work to uphold the law and protect the public."

The (3) gunmen are still at large and there is a large police presence in the city centre trying to track them down. Most of the surrounding area has been closed off.