Man arrested after Glasgow shopkeeper's 'religiously prejudiced' death

Updated

A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a popular shopkeeper in what police are treating as an alleged "religiously prejudiced" attack.

Asad Shah, 40, was found seriously injured outside his shop in Minard Road, in the Shawlands area of Glasgow, on Thursday night.

He was taken to the city's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.

Police Scotland confirmed on Friday that a 32-year-old man has been arrested over Mr Shah's death.

In a statement, the force added: "A full investigation is under way to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death which is being treated as religiously prejudiced."

Residents in the area have described Mr Shah as a "pillar of the community".

A silent vigil was to be held in Glasgow on Friday night to remember the shopkeeper.

Earlier, people arrived at the police cordon surrounding the shop - Shah's Newsagent and Convenience Store - to lay tributes.

Resident Isabella Graham, 64, said Mr Shah employed her daughter at the shop when she was younger and she cried when she called her to tell her the news.

She said: "He was an amazing, wonderful man, he couldn't do enough for you.

"He wouldn't hurt anybody. Nobody in Shawlands would have a bad word to say about him. I can't believe he's gone."

Mrs Graham, who placed flowers at the scene with her young granddaughter, said Mr Shah's family had run the shop for as long as she had lived there, for more than 16 years.

One card left at the cordon read: "Thank you for being the nicest guy on the planet."

Another read: "A good man, much loved and a pillar of the community. You'll be sorely missed.

Meanwhile, vigil organisers Nisreen Sharif and Eildon Dyer said the event would enable the community to come together to mourn the loss of a deeply respected individual.

The event, advertised on social media, was to be held as close to the area's Waverley Gardens as the police cordon would allow. People attending were encouraged to bring a daffodil.

In a statement, the organisers said: "As a community we are coming together to mourn his death and as a small sign of sympathy towards his family."

The Rev Val Duff, Minister of Shawlands linked with South Shawlands Parish Church, said: "Like many people I am deeply saddened to hear of Asad Shah's death. He was obviously a deeply loved man in our community. Our neighbourhood, I know, will come together to mourn his death and to celebrate his life."

Police found Mr Shah seriously injured after they were called to Minard Road at 9.05pm on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a fundraising page set up on the GoFundMe website in support of Mr Shah's family had raised more than £8,000 within hours of being created.

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