Man arrested over death of Glasgow shopkeeper Asad Shah was another Muslim: Police say the attack was religiously motivated
A much-loved Muslim shopkeeper was killed in a street attack in Glasgow.
Asad Shah, 40, was stabbed 30 times by a Muslim man wearing a long religious robe, according to Daily Mail. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after being found seriously injured in Minard Road, Shawlands.
A 32-year-old Muslim man suspected of being behind the attack has been arrested. The police are treating it as a “religiously prejudiced” attack.
The popular shopkeeper posted Easter greetings on his Facebook page hours before he died.
The message read: “Good Friday and a very Happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation… Let’s follow the real footstep of beloved holy Jesus Christ and get the real success in both worlds.”
“Good Friday and very happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation x!” the 40-year-old had posted from an account that appears to be his.
Witnesses say the victim was stabbed and then stamped on before his attackers ran off down the road.
Mr Shah’s brother, who was working next door, rushed out to find the killer laughing while sitting on the Glasgow newsagent’s bleeding chest. ‘The brother dragged Mr Shah away but the guy continued attacking with the blade,’ said Mr Faisal, a family friend. ‘They struggled up to the bus stop where Asad collapsed. ‘It was a well-planned attack. He must have been an extremist.’
Hundreds of residents, politicians and shop owners yesterday paid tribute to the 40-year-old “peacemaker” who went “above and beyond what a shopkeeper should” to help many people in his community.
Mourners continued to visit the scene to pay their tributes and lay floral tributes. Locals, shocked at his death, have been laying flowes at the scene in tribute. Julie McRea, whose son worked as a paperboy at the shop as a youngster, said: ” I just can’t believe it.
“He was just such a kind man. He helped out my family when my kids were having difficulty.
“He was a man of great wisdom. He’d send us all these amazing cards at Christmas and Easter with messages of peace.
One resident, who saw the aftermath of the attack, said: ” This kind of thing just doesn’t happen around here, we’re so shocked by it.
“Shah was such a nice guy, he was so friendly.
In previous online posts, he has spoken out eloquently against violence and hatred and called for ‘unconditional real love for all mankind’.
Last Christmas Day, he posted: ‘Merry Christmas to all my beloved Christian nation and to all beloved mankind with best wishes.’ More than 300 mourners gathered at a vigil last night to pay their respects to Mr Shah.
‘This is disgusting – Mr Shah was the most peace-loving man you could meet,’ said a neighbour.
‘He was proud of his Pakistani heritage but he loved Britain. He loved Scotland too and really wanted to reach out to Christians. This is such a terrible thing to happen.’
