London: Two persons, including a woman, have been arrested in the UK for allegedly killing a Syria-born imam, who was known as a prominent critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, escalating the probe into a terrorism inquiry.
Abdul Hadi Arwani, 48, believed to be a critic of Assad, was found dead in his car in north-west London earlier this month.
A 53-year-old woman was arrested yesterday on suspicion of terror acts in connection with the murder of Arwani.
A 61-year-old man already arrested for the murder has also been held over commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
Leslie Cooper, a 36-year-old Jamaican businessman, was charged with the priest's murder on April 14.
The shooting, which sent shockwaves through the local Muslim community, triggered an investigation by Scotland Yard counter-terrorism officers.
Two police searches are ongoing in relation to Arwani's murder, the Metropolitan Police said, including at the An-Noor cultural and community centre of which Arwani was a founding-imam.
"Community leaders have actively provided advice and support throughout this investigation and continue to provide guidance in relation to the sensitivities of conducting the search at the An-Noor cultural and community centre," the Met Police said.
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow told an Old Bailey court hearing here earlier this week that Arwani had been shot five times in the chest and his car was still running when he was found by horrified passersby.
