A man wanted in connection with the murder of a policewoman in Bradford more than 14 years ago has been arrested in Pakistan.

PC Sharon Beshenivsky had only served nine months in West Yorkshire Police when she was gunned down while responding to a robbery at a travel agent in November 2005.

The 38-year-old became the seventh female officer in Britain to be killed on duty, and her colleague PC Teresa Milburn suffered serious injuries during the same incident.

Image: Piran Ditta Khan has been arrested over the death of Sharon Beshenivsky

On Tuesday, police in Pakistan arrested Piran Ditta Khan in connection with the murder.

The 71-year-old appeared in court in Islamabad on Wednesday where matters relating to his extradition were discussed, and he has been remanded in custody to return to court on 29 January.


West Yorkshire Police Detective Superintendent Mark Swift said: "I would like to thank the National Crime Agency officers in Pakistan and partners who have made this arrest possible."

Image: PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead in November 2005

Mr Swift described the arrest as a "major development in this long-running investigation", and hopes Khan will be extradited to face court proceedings in the UK.

Mr Brian Booth, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation said: "The persistence to capture and bring to justice all those involved in the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky has to be applauded."

Image: Bradford came to a standstill for PC Beshenivsky's funeral

Two men, Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah and Yusuf Abdullah Jamma, have previously been sentenced to life for the murder.

PC Beshenivsky was killed on her daughter's fourth birthday.

Bradford came to a standstill for her funeral, when hundreds of officers lining the route of the cortege, and a memorial was later unveiled at the scene of her death in 2009.