Malcolm Naden, 38, became a suspect in the 2005 murder of a 24-year-old woman when he disappeared shortly after the crime. He was known for his excellent survival skills in the wilderness and police had suspected that he was hiding out in heavily wooded areas in New South Wales near the town of Gloucester, which is about 160 miles (260 kilometers) north of Sydney.

"He has been in this area for a number of years," said New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione. "He knows it better than the back of his hand."

The arrest was made early in the morning when officers and police dogs surrounded a house in New South Wales after receiving a tip that Naden was there.

He suffered dog bites on his legs and was taken to the hospital immediately following his arrest, but has since been treated and taken to jail.

Naden has also been charged with two counts of aggregated assault of a teenage girl and has been linked with the disappearance of his cousin. He also faces attempted murder charges for shooting a police officer in December during an unsuccessful raid on a campsite.

mz/ncy (AP, AFP)