A newsagent murdered after posting an Easter greeting online was allegedly killed by a fellow Muslim who travelled from 200 miles away.

Asad Shah, 40, was stabbed to death in his shop in what is feared to have been a sectarian attack against the peace-loving branch of Islam he followed.

Hours before his murder, he had written on Facebook: 'Good Friday and very Happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation.'

The bearded killer is understood to have travelled from his home in Bradford to Mr Shah's store in Glasgow.

Shopkeeper Asad Shah was killed in a brutal attack outside his shop in Glasgow last night

A GoFundMe page was created following the incident by some of Mr Shah's customers to raise funds for his family.

Posts on the page describe Mr Shah as a 'popular, well-respected and much-loved' member of the community.

Thousands of people have donated, and in two days more than £51,000 has been raised.

The newsagent was stabbed up to 30 times with a kitchen knife and his head was stamped on in the brutal attack on Thursday.

Police suspect the incident was 'religiously prejudiced'.

It is claimed Mr Shah was set upon because he belonged to the Ahmadi community, which promotes peace and tolerance but has been persecuted by members of orthodox Islamic sects in Pakistan.

His murder is believed to be the first major anti-Ahmadi incident in the UK, and has sparked fears Islamic sectarianism has spread to Britain.

Police have arrested a 32-year-old Muslim man belonging to the rival Sunni sect over the murder.

Witnesses say the victim was stabbed and then stamped on before his attackers ran off down the road

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joined an estimated crowd of 400 to 500 people for the vigil to show solidarity and remember Mr Shah

Detectives are investigating the theory that the attacker became enraged over faith-related messages that the newsagent posted on his Facebook page.

Mr Shah's family say they now live in fear of retribution in the wake of the attack.

Speaking on the condition that his name was not published, one of the shopkeeper's three brothers said: 'We have to be careful now about our own security. We are scared for our lives.

THE SECT THAT PREACHES LOVE Asad Shah belonged to the Ahmadi Muslim community, which preaches love and tolerance. The sect, which has a huge missionary network spreading its values of non-violence, identifies itself as a Muslim movement and follows the teachings of the Koran. But it is regarded by orthodox Muslims as heretical because followers do not believe Mohammed was the final prophet sent to guide mankind. As a result, Ahmadi Muslims have been persecuted – particularly in ultra-conservative Pakistan. It moved its headquarters to Britain in the 1980s and is currently based in Morden, south London. The reformist movement's founder was Islamic teacher Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who was born in India in 1835. Advertisement

'The police have told us to be careful about what we say.' Mr Shah's widow fought back tears as she described her husband as a 'kind man who was always smiling'.

Another of the victim's brothers, who now lives in the US, said the Pakistani family moved to Glasgow in the late 1990s and opened the shop in the Shawlands area.

'The people of Glasgow and Shawlands were so welcoming and we became part of the community,' he said.'[Asad] knew all his customers by name and sometimes they would just come in for a chat.

'He was a calm and patient man and did not mind where people were from or what religion they were.

'He liked everyone. He would give people cards for Christmas and for Easter as he knew it was important to them.'

Last night, another Ahmadi Muslim in Glasgow said: 'The last I've heard of people experiencing sectarianism like we do was in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

'Orthodox Muslims consider us to be blasphemers.'

Family friend Mohammad Faisal said a bearded Muslim man wearing a long religious garment spoke angrily to Mr Shah in his native language before stabbing him up to 30 times in the head.

Mr Faisal added: 'It was just a clear-cut revenge attack. For posting messages about peace, messages about greeting fellow Christians and Jews – other people from different beliefs.'