Four held in ‘racist’ murder probe after York van crash

Mohammed Saleem Khan was initially believed to have died when his van crashed into bollards in Easingwold, but was later found to have been stabbed.

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of Mr Khan’s murder and three other people are being questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender.

North Yorkshire Police are now investigating whether the attack was unprovoked and racially motivated and are searching for a weapon.

Mr Khan, 36, a delivery driver from Luton, Bedfordshire, was found with life-threatening injuries in the driver’s seat of his van at around 2.30am yesterday by an off-duty police officer.

The white Ford Transit van was damaged after hitting two bollards in Long Street in the North Yorkshire town.

Mr Khan was taken to York District Hospital for treatment but died later.

Police investigations and a post-mortem examination later found that Mr Khan died from a stab wound to the neck.

Detective Chief Inspector Heather Pearson 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 inquiry 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.”

The detective thanked members of the public in Easingwold for their “tremendous” support and urged anyone with information to contact police.

The 26-year-old local man was arrested in Easingwold in the early hours of this morning.

Three other local people, a 20-year-old woman and two men, aged 21 and 25, were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.