Man Arrested in Arwani Murder Investigation
Police appeal to anyone who may have seen Mr Arwani's VW Passat
A man's been arrested in connection with the murder of Abdulhadi Arwani - the former imam at the An Noor mosque in Acton and resident of Shepherd's Bush.
The 46-year-old man was arrested on the evening of 12 April in Brent on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
He remains in custody at a central London police station.
On the morning of Tuesday, 7 April, Mr Arwani, who lived in W12, was found slumped at the wheel of his vehicle, a dark coloured VW Passat in Greenhill, Wembley.
Detectives have established that Mr Arwani had driven near to the scene around mid-morning on Sunday, 5 April 2015, and had been parked up in Havenwood where he had remained for a short while.
Officers are appealing to anyone who was in the area on Sunday 5 April or Tuesday 7 April to contact police. They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen Mr Arwani or his car.
A post-mortem examination took place at Northwick Park Hospital on Thursday, 9 April where the cause of death was given as gun shot wounds. The precise cause of death is yet to be determined by the Coroner. An inquest is to be opened and adjourned at Barnet Coroner's Court in the coming days.
Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) are leading the investigation because of their expertise in the management of investigations with international dimensions and an established liaison network abroad. Officers remain open-minded about the motive.
Abdulhadi Arwani's son, Murhaf Arwani, has appealed for people to help the police in their investigation. He said:
"The police are currently investigating this brutal murder. As an individual, a family and a community, we are helping the police to solve this heinous crime. Any information we have has, and will be passed on to them and we urge anyone with any information to please please please do the same. To members of the public that knew my late father and even those of you who didn't know him, please tell us what you know. We know that it won't bring our father back to us but it may help to deliver justice to those who killed him."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
13th April 2015