Police were last night questioning a 37-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of the murders of five women in Ipswich, at an undisclosed location in Suffolk.
They had earlier refused to identify the suspect, subsequently named in reports as local Tesco supermarket worker and former special constable Tom Stephens. He was arrested at his home at Trimley St Martin, near Felixstowe, shortly before 7.30am yesterday.
Mr Stephens had maintained his innocence of any involvement in the killings during an interview he gave the BBC last week for "background" purposes, while admitting he knew two of the dead women, all of whom had worked as prostitutes in Ipswich's red light district.
Detectives were initially able to hold the suspect for 24 hours. He can be held for a further 12 hours with permission of a superintendent, and then for up to 96 hours by leave of a magistrates court.
As forensic scientists carried out searches at Mr Stephens's home, and at that of his mother in the market town of Eye, police said their inquiry into the murders was ongoing and they had not withdrawn their advice to prostitutes to stay off the streets of Ipswich.
At a media conference shortly after 9.30am yesterday, the officer heading the manhunt for the suspected serial killer, Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull, announced that a man had been arrested "on suspicion of murdering all five women, Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls".
In a short statement, Mr Gull added: "The man is currently in custody at a police station in Suffolk where he will be questioned about the deaths . . . We will not be naming the police station where the man is being held.
"As legal proceedings are now active, Suffolk police will not be issuing further comments or appeals at this stage."
As police cordoned off Mr Stephens's home and forensic teams returned throughout the day, neighbours confirmed that the property in Jubilee Close had been visited by officers several weeks before.
In his BBC interview last week, Mr Stephens confirmed he had been interviewed at his home earlier in the investigation and that police at that point had taken his mobile telephone and laptop computer.
He said he had probably been "the closest thing" one of the victims, Tania Nicol, had "had as a boyfriend". He explained: "It wasn't a relationship like that, although Annette [ Nicholls] in fact thought that we were an item."
In an interview for the Sunday Mirror, Mr Stephens reportedly admitted he could be arrested in connection with the murders of the five women, because he fitted "the profile of the Ipswich ripper", while again strenuously denying any involvement. Asked if there was anything he could do to help police, he replied: "I've got to. It's not possible for me to do enough."
Arrested man told journalists he was innocent: page 9