A PLANE passenger was arrested today on suspicion of conspiracy to murder exiled Pakistani politician Dr Imran Farooq.
The traveller, a 52-year-old, was arrested at around 10.10am by detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command at Heathrow Airport after landing on a flight from Canada. He has been taken to a west London police station where he remains in custody.
Dr Farooq, a leading member of the Muttahida Quami Movement Party in Pakistan, and a 50-year-old father-of-two, was on his way home from work in Old Street, east London, when he was attacked outside his home in Green Lane, Edgware shortly before 5.30pm on Thursday 16 September 2010.
The cause of death was multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to the head and a 5 1/2in kitchen knife and a house brick used in the attack were recovered at the scene.
Today's arrest was the first in the case and follows the execution by police on Tuesday last week of search warrants at addresses in north-west London. 
Investigators believe the murder of Dr Farooq would have required careful planning and would have required help from other people, some of whom may have provided assistance or information unwittingly.
They want to speak to anyone who was asked for information about Dr Farooq and his routine, or who was asked to help buy items such as knives similar to those used in the murder, or mobile phones around the time of the attack.
Police would also like to speak to anyone who may have been asked to drive people around the Green Lane area in the days before the murder, or who may have witnessed the suspects leaving the scene.
To encourage witnesses to come forward, a reward of up to £20,000 has been offered for anyone providing information leading to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible for Dr Farooq's murder.
n Anyone who can assist should call the police incident room on 0208 721 3784 or contact the police by email at SO15Mailbox-.DrFarooqMurder@met.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 within the UK or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org