[size=18] Manhunt under way for Pc's killer[/size][b]A massive police manhunt is underway after a policewoman was shot dead and her female colleague seriously injured.[/b]
The officers, probationers in their 30s with under two years service, were first on the scene at a robbery in a travel agents at 1530 GMT on Friday.
Up to three men ran out of the business in Bradford, Yorkshire, and fired several shots as they fled the scene.
West Yorkshire Police have appealed for any information on the identity and whereabouts of the gunmen.
Police have vowed to "track them down". The injured officer's condition is serious but not life threatening.
The force stressed both probationers had been wearing their body armour.
'Huge loss'
With the gunmen still at large, surrounding roads have been closed and dozens of armed police are patrolling the area.
BBC correspondent Kevin Bocquet said officers were conducting house to house enquiries and had received a massive response from the public.
The officers were called to Morley Street when a personal attack alarm was sounded by a member of staff and police were alerted.
They were nearest to the scene and had no idea an armed robbery was in progress.
Details of the officers or descriptions of the gunmen have not been released.
Assistant Chief Constable David Crompton said: "West Yorkshire Police has suffered a massive blow and we all feel a huge sense of loss.
"Our hearts go out to the families of the officers involved.
"We have lost a valued and loved colleague and another has been seriously injured and we must remember they were simply doing their job.
"Every single member of West Yorkshire Police, from the chief constable down to the newest recruit, are determined we will track down the person responsible for this crime."
Staff assaulted
The robbery was at Universal Express travel agent.
Members of staff at the family-run business were assaulted and cash taken.
Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan said the fatal shot was fired by the gang "almost immediately".
Several other shots were then fired, one of which hit the injured officer in the shoulder.
She has given officers a description of the men.
A Downing Street spokesman said Tony Blair was "shocked and saddened" to hear of the shootings in Bradford and "his thoughts go out to the family and friends of the officers involved and to West Yorkshire police force".
Home Secretary Charles Clarke said: "While incidents of this sort are mercifully rare, they serve to remind us of the risks and dangers police officers face every day in their work to uphold the law and protect the public."
The incident comes less than three years after 36-year-old Tasawar Hussain was shot dead as he tried to help police stop an armed robbery at another travel agent in Bradford.
Two men were later jailed for life for his murder and Mr Hussain was given a posthumous bravery award.
Two years ago Pc Ian Broadhurst from West Yorkshire police was shot dead in Leeds.
Former US Marine David Bieber was given a life sentence for the execution-style killing at Newcastle Crown Court in December 2004.
The last female officer killed in the UK was 29-year-old Pc Alison Armitage in March 2001 - she was run over and killed by a car thief in Oldham Lancashire.
Before Friday's incident, the last police fatality was Det Con Michael Swindells who was fatally stabbed by a paranoid schizophrenic in May 2004 in Birmingham.
[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/4451508.stm]BBC News[/url]
well that is disconcerting. sympathies go out to the families. and lets hope the second one in ICU survives.
We were only discussing guns yesterday. Criminals still have them.
