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Man arrested in Alps murder probe Al-Hilli murders: Man arrested in Alps probe
(35 minutes later)
French police investigating the killing of a British family in the Alps in 2012 have arrested a 48-year-old man.French police investigating the killing of a British family in the Alps in 2012 have arrested a 48-year-old man.
The man, from the Haute-Savoie region, has been placed in formal custody.The man, from the Haute-Savoie region, has been placed in formal custody.
He was detained after the publication in November of an identikit image of a motorcyclist seen near the scene of the murders in a car park near Lake Annecy. Prosecutors told AFP news agency the man bore a strong resemblance to an identikit image of a motorcyclist seen near the scene of the murders.
Saad al-Hilli, 50, an Iraqi-born British citizen, had been found dead in his BMW car; his wife Iqbal, her mother and a French cyclist were also killed.Saad al-Hilli, 50, an Iraqi-born British citizen, had been found dead in his BMW car; his wife Iqbal, her mother and a French cyclist were also killed.
Mr and Mrs al-Hilli's two young daughters, aged seven and four at the time, survived the attack. Mr and Mrs al-Hilli's two young daughters, aged seven and four at the time, survived the attack, which took place in a car park near Lake Annecy.
The older daughter, Zainab, was shot and beaten. Her sister, Zeena, was found traumatised but physically unscathed after hiding under bodies in the car.The older daughter, Zainab, was shot and beaten. Her sister, Zeena, was found traumatised but physically unscathed after hiding under bodies in the car.
The body of the cyclist, Sylvain Mollier, was found nearby.The body of the cyclist, Sylvain Mollier, was found nearby.
The identikit image of the motorcyclist was issued after French police said they wanted to speak to a man seen riding in the area between 3.15pm and 3.40pm shortly before the murders took place. The identikit image of the motorcyclist was issued last November after French police said they wanted to speak to a man seen riding in the area between 3.15pm and 3.40pm shortly before the murders took place.
The man's helmet was said by prosecutors to be "very particular", one of only a few thousand such models worldwide.The man's helmet was said by prosecutors to be "very particular", one of only a few thousand such models worldwide.
Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud was quoted by AFP as saying the arrest was the result of witness statements that came in after the image was released.
He said there was no "direct link" apparent between the man and the victims.
Under French law, police can hold suspects in criminal cases for up to 48 hours without charge.
Hundreds interviewedHundreds interviewed
Mr al-Hilli and his family lived in Claygate, Surrey and were on holiday at the time of the attack, along with Mrs al-Hilli's mother, Suhaila al-Allaf, who lived in Sweden.Mr al-Hilli and his family lived in Claygate, Surrey and were on holiday at the time of the attack, along with Mrs al-Hilli's mother, Suhaila al-Allaf, who lived in Sweden.
More than 100 police officers in France and the UK have been involved in investigating the case and about 800 people have been interviewed.More than 100 police officers in France and the UK have been involved in investigating the case and about 800 people have been interviewed.
Surrey Police said the arrest was prompted by a line of inquiry in France and was not as a result of the investigation carried out in the UK.Surrey Police said the arrest was prompted by a line of inquiry in France and was not as a result of the investigation carried out in the UK.
French prosecutors previously said the "reasons and causes" for the killings had their "origins" in the UK and they investigated an alleged feud between Mr al-Hilli and his brother Zaid over inheritance.French prosecutors previously said the "reasons and causes" for the killings had their "origins" in the UK and they investigated an alleged feud between Mr al-Hilli and his brother Zaid over inheritance.
Zaid al-Hilli, 54 and also from Surrey, denied involvement in the murders and accused French police of "covering up" the real target of the killings.Zaid al-Hilli, 54 and also from Surrey, denied involvement in the murders and accused French police of "covering up" the real target of the killings.
He was released from bail last month after being arrested last year on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.He was released from bail last month after being arrested last year on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
Surrey police said there was not enough evidence to charge him.Surrey police said there was not enough evidence to charge him.
The motive for the shootings has remained elusive.The motive for the shootings has remained elusive.
Speculation has focused on possible links to Iraq or Mr al-Hilli's work as a satellite engineer.Speculation has focused on possible links to Iraq or Mr al-Hilli's work as a satellite engineer.