LONDON, Sept 18: Two unarmed policewomen were killed in a shooting in Manchester on Tuesday in an attack likely to reignite a long-running debate in Britain over whether officers should carry guns.

A man already wanted on suspicion of two murders, Dale Cregan, 29, was later arrested in connection with the shooting after he walked into a police station.

One of the officers died at the scene and the other died in hospital.

They died after attending what was described as a “routine incident” in the city in northern England. Witnesses reported hearing more than a dozen shots and an explosion.

Dozens of police cordoned off the scene and a bomb disposal truck was called in as a helicopter hovered overhead.

There was already an outstanding 50,000 pound reward for information leading to the arrest of Cregan who was wanted over the murders of David Short last month and Short’s son Mark, killed in a shooting at a pub in May.

It is rare for British police officers, especially female constables, to be killed in the line of duty and such incidents in the past have provoked horror and anger among the public. —Reuters