A 36-year-old man has been arrested in Britain on suspicion of murder after being brought to the United Kingdom from Turkey over the fatal shooting of a Nigerian man and another victim at a party in Manchester in June 2020.
Abayomi ‘Junior’ Ajose, 36, and Cheriff Tall, 21, were shot dead at a party attended by about 400 people in Moss Side, Manchester, in the early hours of June 21, 2020.
According to the Daily Mail, Greater Manchester Police said on Sunday that the suspect had been detained in Turkey and taken to England the previous day.
He was met by police officers at Stansted Airport and remains in custody as detectives continue their investigation.
The shooting occurred at a gathering described as a spontaneous party in a car park near a block of flats, hours after a Black Lives Matter protest.
Greater Manchester Police said a £50,000 reward remained available for information that could lead to the identification and conviction of those responsible for the killings.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson said the arrest demonstrated the police’s determination to secure justice for the victims and their families.
“This arrest demonstrates our unwavering commitment to securing justice for Junior and Cheriff and their loved ones,” he said.
He explained that detectives had spent the past six years carrying out search warrants, analysing evidence, examining seized devices and pursuing leads to identify those responsible.
“While this arrest marks a significant development in our investigation, our work is far from over,” Higginson said.
He urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, particularly those who attended the party but had yet to speak to investigators.
“We know that some people who were there that night have not yet spoken with us, and we want to take this opportunity to urge you to come forward and speak with us,” he said.
“The smallest piece of information could prove to be vital.”
Police said anyone with information could contact Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 3691, quoting incident number 221 of June 21, 2020.