UK authorities arrest more suspects linked to murder of Syrian imam

British counter-terrorism police have made more arrests as part of their investigation into the murder of a Syrian-born imam in London last week, according to a police statement released Thursday.

A 53-year-old woman was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of “the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism” and remains in custody at a south London police station.

A 61-year-old man, who police previously announced was arrested on suspicion of murder, was further arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of “the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.” He also remains in custody at a south London police station.

Police added that their search of An-Noor mosque in northwest London, where the victim Abdul Hadi Arwani worked, is ongoing.

The announcement comes after another suspect, Leslie Cooper, 36, was arrested last Sunday in Brent, northwest London.

He appeared in a local London court on Tuesday, accused of killing the 48-year-old preacher.

Cooper was remanded in custody and is set to appear at the Old Bailey, London’s central criminal court, on Thursday.

Arwani, a Syrian-born British national, was found shot dead in his car in Wembley, northwest London, on April 7.

The father-of-six was a known critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The investigation is being led by detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command. Police say they are “open-minded” about the motive behind Arwani’s murder.