POLICE today arrested the man they had named as their chief suspect in the hunt for the killer of West Yorkshire constable Ian Broadhurst.

Northumbria police detained American bouncer Nathan Coleman after a tip-off from the public, making the arrest in a 2am operation in Gateshead.

A statement from West Yorkshire police said: "Following a call from a member of the public just after 2am today, police attended an address in Northumbria where they arrested a man in his late 30s in connection with the murder of PC Ian Broadhurst and the attempted murder of PC Neil Roper and PC James Banks on Boxing Day.

"The man is currently in custody in Northumbria, where he is being held for questioning."

West Yorkshire police were today travelling up to an unidentified station in the north-east, where the questioning was taking place.

The arrest came just hours after a major alert closed York train station.

Armed police spent three hours combing the concourse after a flower seller reported seeing a man closely matching Nathan Coleman's description.

It is possible the man may have travelled to Gateshead from York. A GNER train to the north-east left York at 5.51pm, six minutes after the flower seller's alert, but before the police dragnet could be put into place.

The murder and attempted murders took place in Oakwood, Leeds, after PCs Broadhurst and Roper challenged a man in a stolen BMW.

The driver was about to be handcuffed when he produced a gun and shot both policemen.

The third officer, PC Banks, had gone to the assistance of his colleagues and escaped injury only because a bullet ricocheted off his radio belt and baton buckle.

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, December 31, 2003