Shane O'Brien: Video shows moment Britain's most wanted fugitive is arrested over 'murder' of Josh Hanson
Suspect believed to have fled country on private jet after 21-year-old stabbed in neck at bar in London in 2015
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This is the moment one of Britain’s most wanted fugitives was arrested in Romania over the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old in a London bar.
Shane O’Brien, 31, is suspected of murdering Josh Hanson at RE Bar in Eastcote, Hillingdon, in October 2015.
He is believed to have fled the country on a private jet in the wake of Mr Hanson’s death, and was put on both Europol’s and Interpol’s most wanted lists with a £50,000 reward offered for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.
Video footage shows the moment police wearing face masks finally caught up with Mr O’Brien, who was pinned to the ground as he was arrested in broad daylight in a street in Romania.
The father-of-two can be seen being bundled into a marked police van before he is taken into custody.
Extradition proceedings are expected to begin to bring him back to the UK.
Reacting to the news on Twitter, the Josh Hanson Trust - a charity set up in the wake of the 21-year-old’s death - sent a message of thanks to the officer investigating the case, DCI Noel McHugh, followed by “Love you Josh”.
Another tweet read: “After three and a half years of waiting today is Josh’s day.”
Mr O’Brien is thought to have left the UK shortly after Mr Hanson was stabbed in the early hours of 15 October, flying on a private jet from Biggin Hill Airport in southeast London to Germany.
It is believed he spent time in the Netherlands, Dubai and at least seven months in Prague.
Police photos taken at the time showed he had changed his appearance, having longer hair and a beard, and a new, large tattoo of an owl holding a skull that covered a large portion of his back.
This was to cover up a distinctive tattoo he previously had, which said “Shannon 15-04-06”.
Ian Cruxton, the National Crime Agency’s head of international operations, said: “O’Brien has spent several years looking over his shoulder as he has been at the centre of an extensive operation to track him down.
“I’m delighted that the pressure brought to bear by this has finally resulted in him being captured as a result of close working with the Romanian authorities.
“I hope his arrest offers some comfort to the family and friends of Josh Hanson.”
Press Association contributed to this report