A senior police source told The Sydney Morning Herald no shots were fired when they moved in on Mr Naden early today in rugged bushland. The capture puts an end to the seven-year hunt for the former abattoir worker. Charged ... Malcolm Naden after being treated at hospital for a dog bite. Credit:Carl Muxlow/Manning River Times Mr Naden, 38, was questioned at Taree police station before being taken in a high security vehicle to Manning Base Hospital to have stitches in his leg after being bitten by a German shepherd police dog called Chuck during the arrest operation. Motorists passing the police station tooted their horns at the media contingent outside.

Shackled and handcuffed and wearing a blue forensic suit, Mr Naden looked frail as he was taken to and from the hospital before being charged. He was shaved bald and had a bushy beard. He appeared this afternoon at Taree Local Court, where magistrate Michael Morahan adjourned the case to April 24. Chuck ... took a bite out of Malcolm Naden. Credit:NSW Police Media Unit Mr Naden, whose head was scratched, did not apply for bail and sat shoeless and motionless in the dock. He limped from court at the end of the hearing. The police prosecutor asked that the case be brought back before the court within four weeks because more charges were expected to be laid against Mr Naden.

Heavy guard ... Mr Naden is taken from Manning Base Hospital after having stitches for a police dog bite. Credit:Nick Moir Mr Morahan complied with the request. "At least it gets things moving," he told the court. Mr Naden is taken from Taree police station to hospital for stitches today. Credit:Nick Moir This result could not have been achieved without the cooperation of communities in northern NSW whose assistance and vital information has helped police over a long period of time

Mr Naden's lawyer, Michael Jones, told reporters his client was "very tired with serious bite wounds from police dogs on his legs". Mr Jones said that despite Mr Naden's wounds and exhaustion, "he's otherwise doing OK". Nearly seven years on the run ... Malcolm Naden is taken away after his capture. This image was blurred by police. Credit:NSW Police Media Tip-off The commander of Strike Force Durkin, Assistant Commissioner Carlene York, earlier told a news conference that police received a tip-off about 8pm yesterday.

Taken into custody ... Malcolm Naden is arrested. Officers from the Tactical Operations Unit and Dog Unit were then sent to a house 30 kilometres west of Gloucester. "It was an area that we had been looking at and we had been concentrating on for some time around that Gloucester, Nowendoc area," Assistant Commissioner York said. Covered in mud ... Malcolm Naden was found in bushland near Gloucester. Officers surrounded the house and Mr Naden came out briefly, before trying to escape through a back door, she said.

"The police then again confronted him on that side, because we had the building contained and a short scuffle ensued when he was then arrested." Malcolm Naden ... captured near Gloucester. Mr Naden was given a health check before he was taken to be interviewed. Assistant Commissioner York said no shots were fired, but police say they seized a loaded semi-automatic rifle from the house. Caught ... Malcolm Naden is taken away by police.

Police believed Mr Naden had been at the house before. "That was something that was quite common to his movements, that he was often going back to the same residence where he'd done break-and-enters over a period of years, often using similar tracks that we thought he was travelling along. Malcolm Naden ... in custody. "It was that painstaking gathering of that evidence by my officers that assisted us in the successful operation last night." Wanted since 2005

Got him ... Assistant Commissioner Carlene York addresses the media. Credit:Peter Rae Mr Naden has been wanted since the discovery of the body of Kristy Scholes in the bedroom of his family's home in Dubbo, in central NSW, in June 2005. Ms Scholes was the partner of Mr Naden's cousin. Police also allegedly link him to the death of his cousin Lateesha Nolan, who was last seen in January 2005. Arrested ... police stand guard outside Taree police station where Malcolm Naden is being held. Credit:Nick Moir Mr Naden is also allegedly linked to the aggravated indecent assault of a 15-year-old girl in Dubbo in 2004.

A 33-year-old police officer was wounded when Mr Naden allegedly opened fire in December last year after police received information leading them to a campsite near Nowendoc. DNA evidence and fingerprints have also allegedly linked Mr Naden to many break-and-enters in NSW over the past six years, Assistant Commissioner York said. This month, NSW Police announced that Mr Naden was in possession of a semi-automatic firearm. Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said that the arrest followed an enormous operation, and thanked the people of northern NSW for their invaluable assistance and support. "The arrest of this man this morning marks the end of a very difficult and lengthy investigation and search operation by NSW Police," Commissioner Scipione said.

"This result could not have been achieved without the co-operation of communities in northern NSW whose assistance and vital information has helped police over a long period of time. "People in those communities deserve praise for their assistance and their perseverance." Commissioner Scipione also praised the work of police officers involved in the operation. "Today's arrest also is a tribute to the many different elements of the NSW Police Force who have come together and operated in a very tough environment," Commissioner Scipione said. "I want to pay tribute to those people from the Tactical Operations Unit, the Dog Unit, the Air Wing, our general duties police and other specialist units whose work has been invaluable. Everyone who contributed can stand tall."

Assistant Commissioner York said police always believed the operation would succeed. "We never doubted that we could get to this point," she said. "Our people were operating in extremely difficult conditions and we had to adapt our strategies along the way. However, we always understood that every day brought us closer and that our tactics would prevail. This was a game of patience and I am very proud of everyone involved. Loading "The fact that we have made an arrest today without any harm to members of the public or police officers gives me a lot of comfort."

- with Stephanie Gardiner and AAP

