Police make 4.30am swoop to arrest man over Manchester murder (From St Helens Star)

Police make 4.30am swoop in Newton-le-Willows to arrest suspect over murder of Manchester man Mark Short

11:31am Thursday 18th October 2012 in News Exclusive By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter

POLICE swooped at an address in Newton-le-Willows in the early hours to arrest a man on suspicion of murdering a 23-year-old who was shot dead at a pub in Manchester.

Residents of Ivy Avenue in Newton-le-Willows were woken just after 4.30am as armed officers from Greater Manchester Police raided a house.

Neighbours described hearing screams as police forced their way into the property.

Inside officers arrested a 34-year-old on suspicion of murdering Mark Short, who was shot dead at the Cotton Tree Inn on Market Street, Manchester in May.

Today’s arrest marks the latest dramatic development in the investigation.

Last month police charged Dale Cregan, 29, with the murder of Mr Short and his father David 46.

Cregan is also charged with murdering Pcs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, of Greater Manchester Police in Hattersley, Tameside, in September.

Speaking to the Star today one resident, who has asked not to be named, said it looked like a “small army” of police had arrived in the road.

He said: “There were two armed Discovery vehicles.

“I’m not sure how many more vehicles there were up the road, but they wouldn’t let us move. I could see one policeman with an automatic weapon. One neighbour was up and ready for work, but they wouldn’t let him go.

“After about 15 minutes, I saw them take the bloke out of the house.

“As far as I understand, the people who own the house have rented the property out. I know the man has two small children.

“I have seen police raids before, but never anything like this. It was a full on operation. There were cops with guns everywhere; lots of them.”

A spokesperson from Greater Manchester Police said: “Greater Manchester Police has today, 18 October 2012, arrested a 34-year-old man on suspicion of murder as part of the investigation into the death of Mark Short.

“The man was arrested in the Newton-le-Willows area of Merseyside and remains in police custody for questioning.

“At 11.50pm on Friday 25 May 2012, police were called to the Cotton Tree Inn on Market Street after a gunman had entered and fired shots.

“Officers attended and discovered 23-year-old Mark Short, had been fatally shot. Three other men were also shot.

“A Home Office post-mortem examination concluded he died from a gunshot wound to the neck.”