Shane O'Brien placed on world-wide most wanted over murder of Kingsbury man Josh Hanson

Shane O’Brien, from Ladbroke Grove, was last week put on Interpol's Most Wanted list when a number of people came forward with information after an appeal in October 2017.

In April he had been named among Europe’s most wanted people.

O’Brien, 30, is the chief suspect in a case in which Kingsbury man Josh Hanson was killed in an unprovoked attack at the RE Bar in Eastcote in October 2015. He fled the UK shortly after Josh’s murder.

Josh Hanson

Josh, who attended Moss Hall School in Finchley, suffered a serious wound to the neck and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A £50,000 reward remains on offer for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.

Josh's mum Tracey, and sister Brooke, said: “We need your help so please share the wanted poster, whether you are going on holiday or if your local shops are happy to display it, please ask and we will send them out to you.

“Someone somewhere also knows where O’Brien is and can change the pain and uncertainty that each day brings for us. 

“If you can help us please get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @JusticeforJoshHanson.”

O’Brien was arrested in Prague in February 2017 for assault. He used an Italian alias, Enzo Mellonceli, and false documents and was bailed by police. He has not been seen since.

However, three days after October's appeal, police received reports a man matching O’Brien’s description had been seen in central Prague on several occasions; the last time around mid-September 2017. 

It is now believed he was in the city for at least seven months.

Another person reported seeing O’Brien around the same time as the Prague sighting, this time in Gibralter, and another report in Nice in early November.

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are working with the National Crime Agency to gather information around these sightings.

Mr O'Brien, originally from Ladbroke Grove in west London, is described as a white man, six-feet tall and of muscular build. He also has a large tattoo of an owl holding a skull on his back.

Investigating officer detective chief inspector Noel McHugh, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said O’Brien had travelled extensively since Josh’s murder moving around without using his real identity.

He said police learned that O’Brien had fled the UK using a privately chartered plane from Biggin Hill Airport.

“Based on what we know about O’Brien’s lifestyle and interests, we are looking to people in nightclubs and boxing gyms as well as ex-pats and any women he may have become involved with him to come forward.

“As always, any calls we receive with information will be dealt with in the upmost confidence. 

“Please do not assume that someone else will call in; what you perceive to be a small piece of information could in fact be the missing piece of the jigsaw that gets justice for Josh.”

Mr McHugh urged the public to remain vigilant “wherever they are in the world” asking that people save the poster to their phones and share it “as widely as possible”.

He added: “Shane O’Brien is dangerous and should not be approached.

Since Josh’s death, two men have so far been arrested as part of the investigation. On October 28, 2015, police arrested a twenty-four and 29-year-old man on an inbound flight to the UK on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender. Both were later released with no further action.

Anyone with information about O’Brien can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org

Or alternatively, contact the police incident room on 020 8785 8099 or the National Crime Agency’s public line on 0370 496 7622 which is staffed 24-hours-a-day.