Fresh from being the first paper in Britain to publish the identity and photograph of murdered police officer PC Sharon Beshenivsky, the Telegraph & Argus in Bradford has scooped the nation’s press again.

As a West Yorkshire Police press conference to unveil the identities and photographs of their three prime suspects got under way, the presses started to roll on a special late edition of the T&A, splashing with their names and photos.

Editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: "The press conference was organised for well after our Final edition print run starts but we were determined not to have to wait until the next day to publish the details of the wanted men.

"This is first and foremost a Bradford story and it’s the Bradford community which has to live with its consequences so it’s our job to get the latest developments in this tragic murder case to our readers first."

The newspaper made this case to the police and they agreed to release the names and pictures to T&A staff in advance, on condition that the press didn’t run until the press conference started and the pictures were available to all other media.

Perry added: "Clearly, it’s in the police’s best interests to circulate those details in Bradford as quickly as possible and there is no more effective way of doing that than on the front page of the T&A.

"We’re very grateful for the co-operation of the police who recognise that the T&A has been at the forefront of calls for a district-wide two-minute silence in honour of PC Beshenivsky which took place on Friday, one week after her murder.”

The three men have been identified as the prime suspects wanted by police in connection with the raid on a Bradford travel agency in which PC Beshenivsky was shot dead and her colleague, PC Teresa Milburn, suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder as she went to her aid.

They have been identified as Mustaf Jama, (25), his brother Yusuf Jama, (19), who is currently being questioned by police, and Muzzaker Shah, (24), all last known to be living in London.