Man 'mistaken' for suspect accused of murdering wife and four children eight years ago arrested in Glasgow

Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes has been on the run since 2011 when his family members were found dead and buried at their home

Suspect at large Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes pictured in 2011 (AFP/Getty)

A man arrested in Scotland on Friday on suspicion of being a fugitive on the run following the killing of a woman and four children in France in 2011 has turned out not to be the man police are hunting, according to French police.

French police told the Associated Press the fingerprints of the man detained in Glasgow Airport on Friday do not match those of the missing suspect Xavier Dupont de Ligonnes who is wanted in connection with the deaths of his wife and children.

The de Ligonnes family disappeared in April 2011.

Police later discovered five bodies with gunshot wounds buried outside their home in the western city of Nantes.

Husband and father Xavier Dupont was the only family member never found, and became the chief suspect.

Police Scotland confirmed that a man was arrested at Glasgow Airport on Friday in connection with a European Arrest Warrant.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “On Friday, 11 October 2019, a man was arrested at Glasgow Airport and remains in police custody in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by the French authorities.

French media first reported the man arrested had been identified by his fingerprints after a tip-off he was heading to Scotland.

Agencies contributed to this report