Police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with the murder of a Luton man in Yorkshire at the weekend.
Mohammed Saleem Khan died from stab wounds to the neck after he was found slumped at the wheel of a rented van by an off-duty police officer in Easingwold at 2.30am.
Police originally thought that he had suffered his injuries in a road accident – his van was discovered crashed into two bollards on a main road – but launched a murder hunt following further enquiries and a post mortem.
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in the early hours of this morning along with a 20-year-old woman and two men aged 21 and 25 who are being held on suspicion of assisting an offender following the incident.
It is believed that Mr Khan, who had recently been living in the Birmingham area, had been due to deliver shower parts in a hired van in North Yorkshire when he was stabbed.
He was taken to York District Hospital for emergency treatment after he was discovered by the off-duty officer but died as a result of his injuries.
Police say that they are not ruling out a racially motivated attack at this stage.
Det Chief Insp Heather Pearson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This is a tragic incident for Mr Khan’s family and specially trained officers are supporting them at this extremely difficult time.
“At this stage, there are a number of lines of enquiry that are being progressed. One aspect of the investigation is that this may have been an unprovoked, racially motivated attack. However, I am keeping an open mind about the motive.
“At this time a murder weapon has not been found and I am appealing to members of the public in Easingwold to report any discarded objects - be that weapons or clothing - to the police.
“I am also keen to establish the movements of Mr Khan. He was driving a white Europcar Ford Transit van and it is believed that he may have been in and around Easingwold for a period of hours prior to his murder.
“I am anxious to identify where he has been and who he has been with during this time frame.”
Anyone with information relating to this incident should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.