Victim Asad Shah was taken to hospital with massive injuries after the brutal assault, which took place on a busy street outside his store on the southside of Glasgow.
The Muslim businessman was attacked at 9pm on Thursday – just hours after he had wished “a very happy Easter to my beloved Christian nation”.
Witnesses say the 40-year-old was attacked with a knife and stamped on as he lay defenceless yards from the door of his newsagents in Shawlands.
Passers-by gave Mr Shah first aid while waiting for an ambulance but he was declared dead on arrival at the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Last night, a Police Scotland spokesman said in a statement: “A full investigation is under way to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death – which is being treated as religiously prejudiced.”
Last night, Police Scotland confirmed that a 32-year-old man has been arrested in connection with Mr Shah’s death.
It was also confirmed that the accused man is a Muslim.
News of the tragedy quickly spread on social networks and hundreds of tributes were paid to Mr Shah, who was described as a well-liked “pillar of the community”.
A silent vigil was being held near the scene of the attack last night.
Eyewitnesses said peace-loving Mr Shah fought back and was able to injure his alleged attacker, who was last night detained in hospital with detectives at his bedside.
Mr Shah, originally from Rabwah in Punjab, Pakistan, posted the Easter wishes on Facebook at 5.10pm, just four hours before he died.
The last post he made before his death read: “Good Friday and a very Happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation.”
He added: “Let’s follow the real footstep of beloved holy Jesus Christ and get the real success in both worlds.” On Christmas Day last year, he posted: “Merry Christmas to all my beloved Christian nation and to all beloved mankind with best wishes.”
In March last year, he posted: “Happy Mother’s Day. To all beloved mothers, lots of love and respect and blessings.”
Read more:
https://reportuk.org/2016/03/26/man-charged-over-religiously-prejudiced-stabbing-of-muslim-shopkeeper-is-also-muslim/
