Race murder theory on van driver with stab wounds

Mohammed Saleem Khan was initially believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries when his van crashed into bollards in Easingwold, near York, but it was later discovered he had died after being 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 investigating whether the attack was unprovoked and racially motivated and are searching for a weapon.

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

The white Ford Transit van was damaged after hitting two bollards in Long Street in Easingwold.

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. Officers are now trying to piece together Mr Khan’s movements.

Det Chief Insp Heather Pearson said: “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 on 101.

A man aged 26 was arrested in Easingwold in the early hours of yesterday. Three other people, a  woman aged 20 and two men, aged 21 and 25, were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.