[a] Greater Manchester's chief constable Peter Fahy called the attack "cold-blooded murder"[3] and Prime Minister David Cameron described it as a "despicable act...of pure evil".

[7] Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, were on routine patrol on 18 September 2012 when they were sent to Abbey Gardens in the village of Mottram in Longdendale in Greater Manchester, at about 11 am, following a report of a burglary.

[9] After arriving at the house where the burglary had been reported the officers came under attack, with 32 gunshots being fired from a Glock pistol within 31 seconds, and one M75 hand grenade being used.

Cregan's older brother Dean was born two years earlier and a younger sister followed, before his father left the family and eventually married a former policewoman with Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

Cregan attended the now-defunct Littlemoss High School in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, where he began dealing cannabis and reportedly developed a 'bad fetish' for knives.

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Peter Fahy defended the decision to grant bail, saying "It is absolutely normal in complex crime inquiries that when people are arrested there are occasions where there is insufficient evidence available for them to be charged".

The following day, a moment of silence was held by all of Greater Manchester Police at 11 am in remembrance of Hughes and Bone, and the Union Flag at the force's headquarters was lowered to fly at half-mast.

British prime minister David Cameron described the attack as "a shocking reminder of the debt we owe to those who put themselves in danger to keep us safe and secure".

[25] Then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson attended the funerals, and said in a statement that the club was "deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two young policewomen protecting our community".

The service for PC Bone was held on Thursday 4 October with, at the request of the deceased's family, only an audio feed available for the crowds outside the cathedral.

[34][13] The deaths of Fiona Bone, Nicola Hughes and David Short were the first times that hand grenades had been used as a murder weapon in the UK.