Yvonne Fletcher: man arrested over PC's murder 31 years on

Scotland Yard has arrested a man over the murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher, who was shot outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984.

The suspect, who is in his 50s, was arrested today on suspicion of conspiracy to murder by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command.

A woman in her 40s and a man in his 30s have also been arrested on money laundering charges, reports The Times.

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In an international appeal, police are offering a £50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Fletcher and the attempted murder of ten Libyans on 17 April 1984.

Fletcher was policing a demonstration outside the embassy – called the Libyan People's Bureau at the time – in St James's Square, when shots were fired from within the building. Ten Libyan men, who were protesting against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, were also shot and injured.

The Metropolitan Police says it believes the incident was part of a campaign orchestrated from Libya to "attack overseas dissidents and their interests in the 1980s".

Police said they were acting on new lines of inquiry, opened up after the demise of Gaddafi in 2011, and officers are now hoping to hear from anyone who was at the protest or who has any information relating to the gunman or gunmen.

The force has released footage showing a number of people who officers wish to identify and interview.

Commander Richard Walton, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, said: "There were a number of witnesses who were part of the pro-Gadaffi counter demonstration, orchestrated from within the Libyan People's Bureau, whom we have never spoken to. We appeal particularly to these people to come forward and speak to us now even after 31 years. We reiterate there is a substantial reward being offered."

He added: "Allegiances change and we hope with the passage of time, witnesses who have not spoken to us will examine their consciences and come forward," said Walton.

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