British police arrest man over 1984 killing of policewoman outside Libyan embassy

British police have arrested a Libyan man in his 50s on suspicion of conspiracy to murder in the 1984 killing of London policewoman Yvonne Fletcher.

Police officer Yvonne Fletcher, 26, was shot from inside the embassy as demonstrators were fired upon during a protest against the country’s leader Moammar Gadhafi in April 1984.

The shooting triggered an 11-day siege of the building by London’s Metropolitan Police, the deportation of 30 Libyans in the embassy and the severing of diplomatic ties between London and Tripoli.

Police said Thursday they had also arrested a man and a woman as part of a money-laundering investigation dealing with the slaying.

The second man and the woman detained on suspicion of money laundering, who are aged in their 30s and 40s respectively, are also Libyans.

The arrest comes as a result of new information obtained since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, with Met detectives having made seven visits to Libya since then.

Mr Walton said that at about 10.17am a number of shots were fired from within the bureau, hitting the officer.

A protest against the rule of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi had been taking place outside at the time.

Commander Richard Walton, head of the Counter-Terrorism Command, said police were launching a worldwide appeal after receiving new evidence.

He appealed to all those involved in the demonstration outside the embassy to come forward.

A reward of £50,000 has been offered and a campaign for information using social media is being launched.

“We have never lost our resolve to solve this case and to bring to justice those who conspired to commit this act of murder”.

Fletcher’s family issued a statement appealing for information.

“We appeal particularly to these people to come forward and speak to us now even after 31 years”.

Scotland Yard has also released 14 images of individuals from the pro-Gaddafi group who they want to trace, as well as video footage of the demonstration and shooting.

It is not yet known whether Matouk is one of those that has been arrested.