ROTHBURY, England, July 6 (UPI) -- A fugitive gunman suspected of killing a man and wounding his former girlfriend and a police officer eluded a massive police search Tuesday, authorities said.
The Sun reported exclusively that Raoul Moat penned a 49-page letter in which he "declared war" on police because "they took it all from me, kids, freedom, house ... ."
"I'm not on the run. I'll keep killing police until I'm dead," he wrote.
"The public need not fear me but the police should as I won't stop till I'm dead."
Moat, 37, is wanted for killing Chris Brown, 29, and wounding Moat's former girlfriend, Samantha Stobbart, 22, in Gateshead Saturday. He later shot and critically wounded a police officer, David Rathband, 42, authorities said.
Moat had just been released from Durham Prison after an 18-week sentence for assault. He had a string of previous arrests, the BBC said.
Moat was believed to be hiding somewhere in the village of Rothbury north of Newcastle, Britain's Sky News reported. The search focused on the area after Moat's black Lexus was found at an industrial estate east of the village, The Guardian reported.
The BBC reported marksmen combed woods, fields and empty buildings around the town without success the search for the former bouncer, who had fled on foot after abandoning his car. Armed officers checked all vehicles leaving the town.
The network said two men who had been described as Moat's hostages were found and arrested for conspiracy to murder, and a third man was taken into custody earlier in the Wrekenton area as part of the investigation.
"This is a fast-moving and dynamic situation," Mark Dennett, area commander for Northumberland, said. "Members of the public are advised to remain indoors and await further instructions.
"Also anyone visiting Rothbury is advised not to travel at this stage."
