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Al-Hilli murders: Second man held in custody in Alps probe Alps killings police find 'no link so far' to held man
(about 1 hour later)
French police investigating the killing of a British family in the Alps in 2012 have said a second man is in custody. French police investigating the killing of a British family in the Alps in 2012 say they so far have nothing to link a man in custody with the crime.
Firearms were found during a search at a property in Talloires, about 10km from the murder scene. A number of guns have been confiscated from the home of the detained 48-year-old former policeman.
But prosecutors said they could not "demonstrate a direct link between the killing and these two men". Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud also confirmed a second man was being held.
Saad al-Hilli, 50, an Iraqi-born British citizen, was 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, was found dead in his BMW car; his wife Iqbal, her mother and a French cyclist were also killed.
The 48-year-old man from the Haute-Savoie region, who was arrested on Tuesday, has been described in reports as a gun enthusiast, a bit of a loner and somewhat difficult.
Police found a Luger pistol during a search of his home in Talloires, about 10 km from the murder scene, but it was not the same model as the Luger used in the shooting.
Mr Maillaud said: "There is no direct link at the moment."
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.
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.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.
A 48-year-old man, from the Haute-Savoie region of France, was arrested on Tuesday. 'Resembles' description
Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud said his arrest did not mean the case was solved. On Wednesday, Mr Maillaud said the ex-policeman's arrest did not mean the case was solved.
The man is an ex-policeman, described as having a strong resemblance to an identikit image of a motorcyclist seen near the murder scene. The man was described as having a strong resemblance to an identikit image of a motorcyclist seen near the murder scene.
"We are talking about one person who resembles the description of another man who was near the scene at the time," Mr Maillaud said."We are talking about one person who resembles the description of another man who was near the scene at the time," Mr Maillaud said.
"We do not know what he was doing there. As I speak to you, that person is still in detention but we have nothing that would link him to the crimes so far.""We do not know what he was doing there. As I speak to you, that person is still in detention but we have nothing that would link him to the crimes so far."
Mr Maillaud said the second man in custody was a friend of the ex-policeman.Mr Maillaud said the second man in custody was a friend of the ex-policeman.
He said police "discovered a great number of munitions, explosives and detonators" during their search. The prosecutor said police "discovered a great number of munitions, explosives and detonators" during their search.
One firearm uncovered was the same type of gun used in the shooting, but it was not the actual gun. He said they believed the pair may have been involved with the trafficking of firearms.
"It is not the same arm and it is not the same calibre, which is absolutely essential to note," Mr Maillaud said. Mr Maillaud said the Luger pistol recovered "is not the same arm" as the actual gun used in the shooting.
"It is not the same calibre, which is absolutely essential to note," he said.
Investigators have stressed that the presumption of innocence must prevail.
A 4x4 that police have been looking for since the shooting has still not been found.
Meanwhile, the UK side of the investigation continues.
More than 100 police officers in France and the UK have been involved in investigating the case and about 800 people have been interviewed.
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.
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.
The motive for the shootings has remained elusive.
Speculation has focused on possible links to Iraq or Saad al-Hilli's work as a satellite engineer.