Asad Shah killing: Muslim shopkeeper suspect 'travelled 200 miles' for 'religiously prejudiced death'

Mr Shah was found severly injured outside his shop in Glasgow and later died in hospital

Police investigating the "religiously prejudiced death" of a Glaswegian shopkeeper believe that the man alleged to be involved may have travelled 200 miles from Bradford in a premeditated attack, according to reports.

Asad Shah was founded severely injured outside his shop in the Shawlands area of Glasgow on Thursday and died later in hospital.

The suspect is alleged to have stabbed him multiple times an stamped on his head.

Respected shopkeeper Asad Shah wrote on Facebook: ‘To my beloved Christian nation’

A 32-year-old Muslim man has been arrested in connection with Mr Shah’s death but police say he has neither been identified or charged.

Police Scotland are investigating whether the attacker was enraged by faith-related social media posts by the 40-year-old, the Scottish Daily Record reports.

Mr Shah was a member of the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam which preaches peace and tolerance towards other religions.

He frequently posted on social media about his faith and shortly before his death had posted a message wishing a happy Easter “to my beloved Christian nation”.

Police believe the killer had already travelled to Glasgow before Mr Shah posted the Easter message.

An anonymous source told the newspaper: “The theory is that he saw what Asad was saying on Youtube and Facebook and drove up to track him down. The hardline Sunni Muslims call Ahmadiyya Muslims kafir. They say they are non-believers.

A GoFundMe page has so far raised thousands to help Mr Shah's family (PA)

“It’s not unusual in other countries to see them killed just for their beliefs, it’s been going on for years.”

It comes as two vigils were held for Mr Shah. At least 150 people, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, gathered on Saturday to pay their respects.

Teenager Aleesa Malik, who organised the vigil, said: "He would take the effort to care for every customer.

"He would want to know how are you, what are you doing. He took an interest in everyone's lives - old, young, anyone.

"You could be any colour, that would not be an issue for him, he just cared too much."

The 17-year-old said she had organised the vigil because she “felt for the amount of support Mr Shah gave us - us as in Glasgow, Glasgow had to give something in return, and that is exactly what we are doing."

Robert Maitland, who runs a social club close to Mr Shah's shop, saw him the morning of the day he was killed.

People have been leaving tributes to the shopkeeper since his death on Thursday evening (PA)

He said: "He was a lovely lad".

"I was his first customer every single morning. It is a very sad loss to the community."

A fundraising page set up on GoFundMe in support of Mr Shah's family has raised more than £43,000.

Additional reporting by PA