'Mosque Bomb' Terror Suspect Pavlo Lapshyn Charged With Murder Of Mohammed Saleem

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'Mosque Bomb' Terror Suspect Pavlo Lapshyn Charged With Murder Of Mohammed Saleem

PA | Posted: 22/07/2013 18:35 BST | Updated: 22/07/2013 18:39 BST

A 25-year-old Ukrainian man has been charged with murdering an 75-year-old grandfather as he walked home from a mosque, police have said.

West Midlands Police said it had charged Pavlo Lapshyn, a post graduate student from Dnipropetrovsk, with the killing of Mohammed Saleem in Birmingham in April and he will now appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Mohammed Saleem was stabbed just yards from his home in Birmingham

Lapshyn was initially arrested last week by officers carrying out a counter terrorism investigation into three separate explosions near mosques in Walsall, Wolverhampton and Tipton, and is still being questioned in connection with that inquiry.

The student, who had been in the UK on a sponsored work placement at a software firm based in the Small Heath area of Birmingham, was arrested on suspicion of murder on 20 July.

Mr Saleem was fatally stabbed just yards from his house as he walked home alone after worship.

The police said they did not believe there was any "on-going threat from this case" but added officers were working with the Ukrainian authorities to look into Lashyn's past history and were planning to send counter terrorism investigators to the country in the next few days.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale, of West Midlands Police, said: "We are still working hard to uncover all the facts and urge anyone who thinks they have information that may assist us to call 101.

"We understand that these incidents have caused a great deal of anxiety and distress within local communities and I want to thank them for the way they have dealt with the developments and the assistance they have given my officers.

"For the family who lost a beloved grandfather it has been a particularly difficult time and we will continue to support them."

Louise Gray, a lawyer in the Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division, said: "Following an investigation by West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, I have been considering the evidence gathered from the inquiry into the murder of Mohammed Saleem.

"I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Pavlo Lapshyn with one count of murder.

"This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

"Pavlo Lapshyn now stands charged with a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial.

"It is very important that nothing should now be reported that could prejudice that trial."

 

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Posing with our man in Kiev, the Ukrainian held over killing of Muslim grandfather

• Suspect arrested in connection with mosque explosions in Midlands area
  
• He was then rearrested on suspicion of the murder of Mohammed Saleem
• Mr Saleem, 75, was stabbed as he returned home from a mosque in April

By PAUL BENTLEY IN DNIPRO PETROVSK, UKRAINEPUBLISHED: 17:09 GMT, 22 July 2013 | UPDATED: 11:06 GMT, 23 July 2013

Posing with the British ambassador, Ukrainian student Pavlo Lapshyn receives a prize which would send him to England to work at a top technology firm.Three months after arriving, the 25-year-old was yesterday charged with killing a Muslim grandfather and was being questioned on suspicion of bombing three mosques. As his university professor father spoke of the family’s shock at hearing the allegations, pictures emerged of Lapshyn a year ago.

Awarded: Ambassador Leigh Turner (left) and Michail Chubenko give Pavio Lapshyn (circled) a prize that sent him to work at an English technology firm

In a ceremony at the official Kiev residence of then ambassador Leigh Turner, Lapshyn was presented with third prize for his work as a PhD student at the National Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine.

Stabbed in the back: Mohammed Saleem, 75

Dressed in a suit and pink tie, the student showed little emotion as he posed for a photograph.Also present were university representative Michail Chubenko, his tutor Viktor Laskin and Delcam director Hugh Humphreys OBE.Lapshyn was offered the chance to work for Delcam in Birmingham, which started in April.

There he met Denis Negreba, 22, another Ukrainian student, who was also arrested for terror offences before being released without charge on Sunday night.Negreba is now expected to act as a witness in any prosecution faced by his friend, known as Pasha.Speaking from his home town Dnipropetrovsk, 250 miles south of Ukraine’s capital, Lapshyn’s father said: ‘My son went for an internship as a programmer and at the same time he needed to work in mechanical engineering in Britain.

I am in shock and I hope it is a mistake.’His mother Galina, who almost died in a recent car accident, said: ‘I have a very good son, he has two honours degrees.’ His tutor, Mr Laskin, added: ‘He is shy and a quiet guy. He didn’t have any conflicts. He couldn’t defend himself. It is b*******.’Grandfather Mohammed Saleem, 75, was stabbed three times and stamped on as he returned from evening prayers three months ago.Three mosques across the West Midlands have also been bombed in the past few weeks.

Investigation: A police forensic tent stands at the scene of Mr Saleem's murder in Small Heath, Birmingham

'Anxiety and distress in the local area': Officers patrol the neighbourhood where Mr Saleem was killed

The two Ukrainian students were initially held last week by detectives investigating the explosions before Lapshyn was also arrested in relation to ‘a further act of terrorism’, on suspicion of the murder of Mr Saleem. Mr Saleem’s daughter, Shazia Khan, 45, said: ‘It was an act of terrorism because he was killed for his faith.’

His widow Said, 69, who was married to him for 50 years, said what happened to him was ‘so wrong’. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: ‘British ambassadors meet thousands of people every week as part of their official duties.’ Lapshyn is due to appear at Westminster magistrates’ court this morning.

The Wolverhampton mosque where signs of another blast were found last week: Ukrainian Pavlo Lapshyn continues to be questioned in connection with explosions at three mosques in the West Midlands

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