British police arrest man over 1984 killing of policewoman outside Libyan embassy

A Libyan man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to murder a British policewoman who was shot dead outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984.

Commander Richard Walton, head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism unit, said a Libyan man in his 50s was arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

He is also suspected of money laundering offences, and two other Libyan nationals - a man in his 30s and a woman in her 40s - have also been arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

The arrest comes as a result of new information obtained since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, with Met detectives having made seven visits to Libya since then.

PC Fletcher had been one of a number of officers policing the demonstration and was one of 11 hit by the gunfire.

Police said this was "the first significant arrest" of the investigation into the killing of 25-year-old Yvonne Fletcher, which led Britain to sever diplomatic relations with Libya.

A protest against the rule of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi had been taking place outside at the time, together with a counter demonstration.

"We believe that the incident was part of the so-called "stray dogs campaign" being orchestrated from Libya to attack overseas dissidents and their interests during that time", police said in a statement.

He said it had launched the largest Facebook appeal in the history of the Met as part of the appeal.

Police are offering a reward of up to 50,000 pounds ($76,000) for information leading to those responsible for the killing and are releasing footage from the demonstration moments before the shooting started.

"His one regret in life was that no one had been arrested in connection with the murder of his daughter and never witnessed any justice".

"Resolving this crime is still important to all the family".

"Any information, however small, can help bring closure for the family and we therefore continue to support the Metropolitan Police in their ongoing investigation".

The detective added: "We want those men to examine there conscience and come forward to us".