Family's Tribute To Fallen Officer

• Nicola Hughes was one of two police officers shot dead on September 18, 2012. She was 26-years-old with three years service and was described as "a great bobby" who was "very bubbly" and "always smiling".
  

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  Fiona Bone, 32, was killed in the same shooting. She had served as a police officer for five years and was described by colleagues as an "excellent bobby" who cared about her job and the community she served and was always "calm, collected and professional". She had been in the middle of planning her wedding.
  

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  Father-of-two PC Ian Dibell, 41, was off work with a hand injury when he was killed near his home in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex in July, 2012. He had gone to help a member of the public who had been injured in a gun attack, and was shot.
  

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  PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead when she and a colleague tried to stop armed robbers in Bradford in November 2005. Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah and Yusuf Abdillh Jamma were sentenced to life for her murder.
  

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  Detective Constable Stephen Oake died during a police raid on a flat in Crumpsall, Manchester, in January 2003. Kamel Bourgass launched a frenzied knife attack on the Special Branch officer as he tried to escape. The Algerian was sentenced to life for his murder. DC Oake's bravery not only saved the lives of several of his colleagues but potentially hundreds of people, who Bourgass was plotting to kill with the deadly poison ricin.
  

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  PC Ian Broadhurst, 34, of West Yorkshire Police, was murdered by David Bieber, 38, on Boxing Day 2003. Bieber also shot two of his colleagues after he was pulled over in Leeds. The American bodybuilder, who was wanted by the FBI for ordering two killings in Florida, was subsequently jailed for life.
  

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  Pc Keith Blakelock, a 40-year-old father of three, who was set upon by a mob and hacked to death with a machete during the Broadwater Farm riots in 1985. Winston Silcott, along with two other men, was found guilty of his murder but in 1991 their convictions were overturned on appeal because of "unsafe" police evidence.
  

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  Pc Yvonne Fletcher was shot outside the Libyan Embassy in London on April 17, 1984, while controlling a crowd of demonstrators. She later died. Her killer has never been brought to justice and film director Michael Winner founded the Police Memorial Trust as a result of her murder.
  

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Andrew Wilson and Martin Brunt look at the background to the shooting of two Manchester police officers.

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The family of a police officer killed in a gun and grenade attack say she died doing the job she loved.

Nicola Hughes, 23, who lived in Oldham with her mother Susan, had "always wanted to make a difference", her relatives said.
Her mother, father Bryn and younger brother Sam issued a statement saying: "Nicola was our only daughter and a beautiful child. She was always happy with life and lived for her family.

A police officer holds flowers handed over by a member of the public

"She had an infectious personality and sense of humour and was a very caring and loving girl. When she left the house... she was going to the job she loved."
PC Hughes was killed along with colleague Fiona Bone, 32, after answering a routine burglary report in Hattersley, Greater Manchester, on Tuesday.
The family statement added: "Nicola always wanted to make a difference and, in doing so, she made such a big difference to everyone she knew. She cared about everyone and especially her colleagues.

Victims Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes

"Nicola was only 23-years-old and had the whole of her life in front of her. We cannot express how we feel today except to say we have always been exceedingly proud of Nicola and always will be. She knew she was loved by us all and we shall all miss her dreadfully."
A minute's silence was held for the officers at 11am. Earlier a vigil took place at a church in Hyde, where candles were lit and prayers were said.
More than 2,500 messages have been left on Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) online book of condolence.

Flowers are pictured at the roadside in Hattersley

Natalie Kunath wrote: "As a serving police officer this is our worst fear! May you both rest in peace. My thoughts are with family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time. This is a dark day for the entire police family."
A message from Claire Davidson read: "I have known Nicola since she was a little girl, she was such a nice girl. I send all my love to both ladies' families, friends and colleagues."
Gail wrote: "Fiona took a statement from me when I was a victim of domestic abuse. I warmed to her straight away. She was kind and gentle and understanding.

A vigil was held at a local church to remember the two officers

"She put me at ease and even threw in a giggle or two, an amazing lovely woman."
Flowers have been laid in tribute at the police cordon.
One note attached read: "Nik and Fi, You swore to protect and serve. I hope you can still do that from heaven with all the other police guardian angels.

Many serving officers have left messages in an online book of condolence

"I will never forget you beautiful ladies. It was a pleasure to have known you and work with you. God bless, sleep tight, Emma C x x".
GMP Federation chairman Ian Hanson said: "Our members are numb. We've got to get up, we've got to carry on, we've got a city to police, we've got thousands of incidents to deal with today.
"Police officers in Greater Manchester are exhausted by the events of yesterday, but we don't have a choice. We've got to come in to work and we’ve got to go on, because that’s what our two colleagues yesterday would have expected us to do."
Dale Cregan, 29, was arrested after going to a police station in Hyde following the shooting. He is being detained on suspicion of killing the two officers.