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Suspect in Hawker murder arrested Suspect in Hawker murder arrested
(30 minutes later)
The only suspect in the murder of British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker has been arrested by police in Japan, the Foreign Office has confirmed.The only suspect in the murder of British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker has been arrested by police in Japan, the Foreign Office has confirmed.
Tatsuya Ichihashi, 30, is being held in police custody in Osaka.Tatsuya Ichihashi, 30, is being held in police custody in Osaka.
Miss Hawker, 22, from Brandon, near Coventry, was found buried in a sand-filled bath at the suspect's Tokyo flat in March 2007.Miss Hawker, 22, from Brandon, near Coventry, was found buried in a sand-filled bath at the suspect's Tokyo flat in March 2007.
Earlier Mr Ichihashi's mother had appeared on television urging her son to turn himself in to police.Earlier Mr Ichihashi's mother had appeared on television urging her son to turn himself in to police.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are glad and relieved that the only suspect in this case, Tatsuya Ichihashi, has been found and is now in police custody.A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are glad and relieved that the only suspect in this case, Tatsuya Ichihashi, has been found and is now in police custody.
"We are grateful to the Japanese police for their efforts and we remain in close contact with the Hawker family.""We are grateful to the Japanese police for their efforts and we remain in close contact with the Hawker family."
Went missing Plastic surgery
A spokesman for the Osaka Prefectural Police said: "We have detained a person in Osaka city who appears to be the suspect in the murder."A spokesman for the Osaka Prefectural Police said: "We have detained a person in Osaka city who appears to be the suspect in the murder."
Miss Hawker was teaching English in Japan when she went missing on 25 March, 2007. Her body was discovered on the balcony of Mr Ichihashi's flat. Miss Hawker, a Leeds University graduate, was teaching English at Koiwa school in Tokyo when she went missing on 25 March, 2007.
Her body was discovered on the balcony of Mr Ichihashi's flat, taped-up and half-buried in a bathtub. The suspect escaped as police arrived at his flat.
Lindsay Ann Hawker's body was found in a bathtub filled with sandLindsay Ann Hawker's body was found in a bathtub filled with sand
According to unconfirmed reports in the Japanese media, police detained a man believed to be Mr Ichihashi at Osaka ferry port at about 1800 local time.According to unconfirmed reports in the Japanese media, police detained a man believed to be Mr Ichihashi at Osaka ferry port at about 1800 local time.
It was suggested he was waiting for a ferry bound for the island of Okinawa in the far south-west of Japan.It was suggested he was waiting for a ferry bound for the island of Okinawa in the far south-west of Japan.
He is reported to have told officers: "I am Ichihashi."He is reported to have told officers: "I am Ichihashi."
Mr Ichihashi is thought to have recently had plastic surgery to change his appearance. He is believed to have had cheek implants and lip-thinning.Mr Ichihashi is thought to have recently had plastic surgery to change his appearance. He is believed to have had cheek implants and lip-thinning.
After Miss Hawker's body was found, her father, William, issued an appeal to the Japanese public for her killer to be caught. Police went to the clinic where a plastic surgery patient believed to be Mr Ichihashi had a follow-up appointment, but he never arrived.
Mr Hawker said the incident "brought shame" on the country. Miss Hawker's family has visited Japan several times, appealing to police and the public for help in finding the suspect.
Her father, William, appealed to the Japanese public for her killer to be caught, saying the incident "brought shame" on the country.
A spokeswoman for the family said it was still waiting for official confirmation from the Japanese embassy about the arrest. A news conference at the family's home in Coventry was expected to take place later.