Ulster: Reporter quizzed on Manchester bomb

A CRIME reporter was arrested and questioned yesterday after naming a person he claimed was a suspect in the 1996 IRA bomb in Manchester.

Manchester Evening News journalist Steve Panter was released without charge from Astley Bridge police station in Bolton, Greater Manchester. He was arrested by appointment on suspicion of aiding and abetting wilful misconduct in a public office.

Mr Panter was asked how he gained information published in the newspaper in April on a man the newspaper said helped organise the bomb. Mr Panter claimed the man, from Northern Ireland, had been back to the scene several times but detectives decided not to arrest him. A Greater Manchester Police detective chief inspector was arrested on suspicion of passing information to Mr Panter in June and released without charge, but is suspended.