A man being hunted in connection with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky was being questioned by detectives in West Yorkshire today.

Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah, 24, was arrested in a police operation in Newport, South Wales. A 23-year-old man was also detained in the operation, Gwent police said.

The men were arrested in the Maindee area of Newport yesterday lunchtime following a swoop on a launderette.

The suspects were transported back to the county for questioning at an unspecified police station.

Police made the arrests on the street they cordoned off at the weekend in relation to the investigation.

Gwent Police, who made the arrests, confirmed the operation launched over the weekend was connected with the death of PC Beshenivsky, who was shot dead when she investigated an alarm at a travel agents in Morley Street on November 18.

Her colleague PC Teresa Milburn, 37, was seriously injured in the same incident. West Yorkshire Police are still hunting for 25-year-old Mustafa Jama. His brother Yusuf Jama, 19, has already appeared in court charged with murder.

Residents in the Maindee area where the arrests were made were told by police to stay indoors or asked to stay away from the area.

Some faced roadblocks and were unable to return to their homes as a result of the massive police activity.

The force helicopter was deployed in the area and up to 20 officers remained within the police cordon.

Tommy Roberts, a 40-year-old security guard, witnessed the arrests being made. Mr Roberts said: "As I got to Cromwell Road, I noticed about five officers pointing their guns at two males on the floor. One looked Somali and the other was of mixed race.

"About five police officers had their guns pointed at their body and head. The Somali man was saying 'it wasn't me, it wasn't me'.

"The next moment a police officer went to a car and pulled out an A4 piece of paper which looked as if it was a photocopy of a photo.

"He gave a nodding sign to one of his colleagues, at which point the men were picked up off the floor and separated.

"They were both handcuffed and the Somali man was put into a car and the other went into a police van."

Crimestoppers has offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killers.

PC Beshenivsky left a husband, three children and two stepchildren.

PC Milburn was released from hospital two days later after treatment for a gunshot wound to the shoulder.