Police hunting fugitive murder suspect Raoul Moat have arrested two men.
The pair were seized in farmland on suspicion to commit murder, officers told a news conference.
They said Moat is still at large, and have closed off a two-mile area around a village in Northumberland.
Residents in Rothbury were warned to stay indoors and people were advised not to travel to the area.
Northumbria Police said they had also set up a five-mile exclusion zone in the air.
Last night, a man matching Moat's description robbed a fish and chip shop at gun point.
Officers said a 6ft tall white man - aged about 35 with a "muscular build" - brandished the weapon in Blyth, 10 miles north of Newcastle, before escaping with cash.
Dozens of armed police have been searching for Moat, 37, since Saturday morning.
He allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown before gunning down PC David Rathband, 42.
Chris Brown was shot dead by Moat.
The former bouncer mistakenly thought Miss Stobbart was having an affair with an officer.
He reportedly confessed to the gun rampage in a letter warning: "I will keep killing police until I'm dead."
Watch the Moat news conference live on Sky Player at 11.30am
One of Moat’s friends, Andy Mcallister, revealed the wanted man gave him a 49-page handwritten letter to pass on to officers and the press.
Other extracts included: "Last night I declared war on Northumbria Police.
"They took it all from me... kids, freedom, house… obviously I have issues, but I was pushed.
"I am very sorry about Sam, and wish I hadn't shot at her... I never cheated on her, I wish she hadn't on me. She pulled the trigger by doing so just as much as me."
Meanwhile, police have surrounded a house in the Springwell Road area of Gateshead. A force spokesman would only say that it was an "on-going operation".
Yesterday, a number of people were arrested at gunpoint but were later released as police followed up reports of sightings of people resembling Moat.
Officers have released details of a car connected to the suspect. The vehicle is a black Lexus with the registration number V322 HKX.
Moat, from the Fenham area of Newcastle, was released from prison on Thursday after being jailed for 18 weeks for assault.
On Saturday, he allegedly shot Miss Stobbart, 22, and killed Chris Brown, 29, at a house in the Scafell area of Gateshead, before fleeing.
The next day, Moat is suspected of shooting married father-of-two PC Rathband, in East Denton, Newcastle. The officer's condition remains critical but stable.
Police said Miss Stobbart - who is being "appropriately protected" - was no longer in a critical condition and was "improving".
Officers were warned Moat may have been planning to harm his ex-girlfriend the day before he allegedly went on a shooting spree.
Northumbria Police Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim confirmed: "Northumbria Police were not informed that Mr Moat intended to shoot or kill Samantha Stobbart.
"We were informed on Friday afternoon by Durham Prison that Mr Moat may intend to cause serious harm to his partner.
"We acknowledge that it is important that these matters are investigated thoroughly, and I have voluntarily referred this aspect to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."
Anyone with information should call 03456 043043 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The pair were seized in farmland on suspicion to commit murder, officers told a news conference.
They said Moat is still at large, and have closed off a two-mile area around a village in Northumberland.
Residents in Rothbury were warned to stay indoors and people were advised not to travel to the area.
Northumbria Police said they had also set up a five-mile exclusion zone in the air.
Last night, a man matching Moat's description robbed a fish and chip shop at gun point.
Officers said a 6ft tall white man - aged about 35 with a "muscular build" - brandished the weapon in Blyth, 10 miles north of Newcastle, before escaping with cash.
Dozens of armed police have been searching for Moat, 37, since Saturday morning.
He allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and killed her new boyfriend Chris Brown before gunning down PC David Rathband, 42.
Chris Brown was shot dead by Moat.
The former bouncer mistakenly thought Miss Stobbart was having an affair with an officer.
He reportedly confessed to the gun rampage in a letter warning: "I will keep killing police until I'm dead."
Watch the Moat news conference live on Sky Player at 11.30am
One of Moat’s friends, Andy Mcallister, revealed the wanted man gave him a 49-page handwritten letter to pass on to officers and the press.
Other extracts included: "Last night I declared war on Northumbria Police.
"They took it all from me... kids, freedom, house… obviously I have issues, but I was pushed.
"I am very sorry about Sam, and wish I hadn't shot at her... I never cheated on her, I wish she hadn't on me. She pulled the trigger by doing so just as much as me."
Meanwhile, police have surrounded a house in the Springwell Road area of Gateshead. A force spokesman would only say that it was an "on-going operation".
Yesterday, a number of people were arrested at gunpoint but were later released as police followed up reports of sightings of people resembling Moat.
Officers have released details of a car connected to the suspect. The vehicle is a black Lexus with the registration number V322 HKX.
Moat, from the Fenham area of Newcastle, was released from prison on Thursday after being jailed for 18 weeks for assault.
On Saturday, he allegedly shot Miss Stobbart, 22, and killed Chris Brown, 29, at a house in the Scafell area of Gateshead, before fleeing.
The next day, Moat is suspected of shooting married father-of-two PC Rathband, in East Denton, Newcastle. The officer's condition remains critical but stable.
Police said Miss Stobbart - who is being "appropriately protected" - was no longer in a critical condition and was "improving".
Officers were warned Moat may have been planning to harm his ex-girlfriend the day before he allegedly went on a shooting spree.
Northumbria Police Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim confirmed: "Northumbria Police were not informed that Mr Moat intended to shoot or kill Samantha Stobbart.
"We were informed on Friday afternoon by Durham Prison that Mr Moat may intend to cause serious harm to his partner.
"We acknowledge that it is important that these matters are investigated thoroughly, and I have voluntarily referred this aspect to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."
Anyone with information should call 03456 043043 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.