Man arrested in Raoul Moat investigation

A man has been arrested on suspicion of firearms offences in connection with the Raoul Moat investigation, police said today.

The man, 23, who has not been charged, is the 16th person to be arrested in connection with the case. It follows the arrests of five men last week.

Two men, aged 28 and 36, were arrested in the Newcastle area on suspicion of assisting an offender, on Thursday. They were later released on police bail, pending further inquiries.

Northumbria Police arrested three men, aged 27, 34 and 45, at two addresses in Newcastle and one in Wallsend, on the same charges on Wednesday. They have also been bailed.

So far only two people have been charged in relation to the inquiry.

Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on July 8 charged with conspiracy to commit murder and possessing a firearm with intent.

Ness, 26, from Dudley in North Tyneside, and Awan, 23, from Blyth in Northumberland, were remanded in custody to appear before Newcastle Crown Court later this month.

Moat died after shooting himself in the early hours of July 10 at the end of a six-hour stand-off in the village of Rothbury, Northumberland.

It followed a week-long manhunt for the steroid-abusing father-of-three, who killed Mr Brown, wounded Ms Stobbart and shot Pc David Rathband, 42, in the face, leaving him blind.

Moat went on the rampage after Ms Stobbart told him their relationship was over.

Last week, the opening of the inquest into Moat's death heard that two Tasers were fired at him around the same time as the fatal shot.

Two firearms officers from West Yorkshire Police fired XRep Tasers, which were not approved by the Home Office, it emerged outside the hearing.

The weapon, which is fired from a 12-gauge shotgun, is being tested by the Home Office before being approved for use by police forces in England and Wales.

But the Home Office stressed that police could use any weapon they saw fit as long as its use was "lawful, reasonable and proportionate".

The matter was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission by Northumbria Police.

The force said it would be "inappropriate to comment" on the Tasers while the IPCC investigation was ongoing.

West Yorkshire Police said they were also unable to comment due to the investigation.