A Libyan man has been arrested in England on suspicion of conspiracy to murder PC Yvonne Fletcher, who was fatally shot 31 years ago during a protest at the Libyan embassy in London.

The man in his 50s was arrested on Thursday morning in south-east England on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and money laundering, Scotland Yard told journalists at a specially convened briefing.

A woman in her 40s in south-east England and a man in his 30s in London, both Libyan, have also been arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

Fletcher, 25, was shot from inside the Libyan embassy as gunfire opened on demonstrators protesting against Muammar Gaddafi on 17 April 1984. Her death triggered a siege of the embassy by the Met for the next 11 days, and the UK cutting diplomatic ties with Libya.

Fletcher, previously described by colleagues as “a diamond” who loved her job, joined the Met at19. She had been turned down by two other forces owing to her height. At 5ft 2in, she was believed to be the shortest police officer in the country at the time of her death. The Met waived its then minimum height restriction because she was such a promising recruit, Fletcher’s mother, Queenie, told reporters at the time.

A number of her colleagues – including her fiance, also a police officer – comforted her while an ambulance was called.

Cdr Richard Walton, head of the Met’s counter-terrorism command, SO15, said on Thursday that the arrests marked a “significant turning point” in the investigation.

All three arrested were held in police custody and searches were being conducted at a number of addresses across the country.

Scotland Yard launched a global appeal for witnesses – including its most extensive use yet of Facebook – who had not spoken to them before to come forward. A £50,000 reward was offered for information leading to prosecution.

The Met released dramatic footage of protesters chanting outside the embassy before gunshots ring out and panic ensues.

Fletcher is seen lying on the floor as a fellow officer removes his helmet and kneels to tend to her. Images show 14 pro-Gaddafi protesters that the Met wants to track down.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Images of the14 protesters that the Metropolitan police are keen to track down. Photograph: Metropolitan police

Anti-Gaddafi demonstrators had assembled outside the embassy on 17 April 1984 and were soon joined by a counter-demonstration formed of pro-Gaddafi protesters.

Walton said the Met believed the counter-demonstration was coordinated from within the embassy as part of the “stray dogs” campaign being run from Libya against overseas dissidents. He said the force believed two firearms were used on the fatal day, a pistol and an automatic weapon.

As well as the death of Fletcher, 10 Libyan men protesting were shot and injured. Walton said: “Over the last 31 years we have never lost our resolve to solve this case, to bring to justice those who conspired to commit this act of murder. It remains one of the saddest and darkest days in British policing.”

Scotland Yard detectives have visited Libya seven times since 2001, most recently in 2014. Walton said the demise of Gaddafi, who died in 2011 during civil war in Libya, had provided access to new lines of inquiry and Thursday’s arrests had been prompted by fresh evidence.

Rory O’Keeffe – who lived and worked in Sirte, Tripoli and Benghazi following the death of the Libyan dictator and penned The Toss of a Coin, a book on the country’s social and political issues – warned the post-Gaddafi Libya was still a complex and volatile place.

He said: “The Gaddafi regime has long been linked – with reason – to activities at home and abroad which were in flagrant disregard of international law. Any efforts to bring people to justice for those activities must be welcomed.

“The removal of Gaddafi certainly offers the potential for close investigation into matters including the criminal killing of PC Fletcher, and this should not be missed. It is also feasible that some of those who have fled Libya’s ongoing four-sided second civil war might have information about the deposed regime’s activities.

“But Libya’s political situation is complex and volatile, with all actors lacking legitimacy and competing with one another for position, trust and international backing.

“One of the few things to connect them all – politicians and militia groups – is their shared and inflexible opposition to Gaddafi’s regime, legacy and supporters. This combination should keep us alert to the potential for misleading, incomplete, or outright incorrect ‘evidence’ presented as fact by people who may be motivated by more than simple justice to speak out.”

As part of the Met’s appeal, targeted Facebook adverts are to be used to reach out to Libyans across the world. It would be the biggest Facebook campaign to be run by the force, Walton said. “We’re hoping with the passage of time and allegiances changing that witnesses who have not spoken to us will examine their consciences and come forward,” he added.

Fletcher’s family made an appeal for help in securing justice over her death. “It is now 31 years since Yvonne was shot and killed outside the Libyan People’s Bureau in St James’s Square,” they said. “Recently we have had to come to terms with another loss through the death of Yvonne’s father, Tim. His one regret in life was that no one had been arrested in connection with the murder of his daughter and he never witnessed any justice.

“Resolving this crime is still important to all the family. Any information, however small, can help bring closure for the family and we therefore continue to support the Metropolitan police in their ongoing investigation. This is a difficult time for us and we will be making no further comment at this present time.”

The British prime minister’s official spokeswoman said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on an ongoing case. “But it does remind us all of the dangers that our brave police officers face on a daily basis and the extraordinary courage they show. And it highlights the determination of the police to pursue those who attack others and make sure people are brought to justice.”

There were threats to burn down the British embassy in Tripoli in to the siege and the UK cutting all diplomatic ties with Libya. UK citizens in Libya were refused permission to leave and a British Caledonian airline manager was detained as a hostage. Libyan diplomats were eventually allowed to leave the embassy after 11 days and escorted to Heathrow, where they were allowed to fly home to Tripoli.











