He was on the ‘world’s most wanted’ list
Shane O’Brien, one of Britain’s most wanted fugitives, has been arrested in Romania after years on the run.
The 31-year-old is suspected of murdering Josh Hanson, who was stabbed to death aged 21 in a bar in Hillingdon, west London, in 2015. He is believed to have fled the scene and left the UK on a private jet following the attack.
A red alert was issued by Interpol and a £50,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.
According to the Metropolitan Police, he was detained in Romania on Saturday after the force issued a European Arrest Warrant. They said extradition proceedings will begin to bring him to the UK where he can be questioned by authorities.
The head of international operations for the National Crime Agency, Ian Cruxton, said: “O’Brien has spent several years looking over his shoulder as he has been at the centre of an extensive operation to track him down.
“I’m delighted that the pressure brought to bear by this has finally resulted in him being captured as a result of close working with the Romanian authorities.
“I hope his arrest offers some comfort to the family and friends of Josh Hanson.”
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of Hanson’s death as haemorrhage, inhalation of blood and an incised wound to the neck.
O’Brien is believed to have spent time in Germany, the Netherlands, Dubai, and more than half a year in the Czech Republic, frequently visiting gyms, boxing clubs and nightclubs.
He was actually arrested in Prague in February 2017 while using fake Italian documents but was released before officers discovered his true identity.
O’Brien changed his appearance since the attack, growing his hair and a beard. He also had a new tattoo of an owl holding a skull on his back which covered an older tattoo that read “Shannon 15-04-05”.
