Shane O'Brien: Chief suspect in London stabbing placed on Interpol's world most wanted list

The chief suspect in a fatal stabbing at a London nightclub has been placed on a world most wanted list, Scotland Yard has revealed.

Shane O’Brien , 30, is wanted by police over the murder of 21-year-old Josh Hanson at the RE Bar in Eastcote, Hillingdon.

The victim was slashed in the neck in the early hours of October 11 2015 and pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

O’Brien fled the country on a private plane immediately after the killing and has now been placed on Interpol’s Most Wanted list. He already appears on Europol’s Most Wanted list.

In an emotional appeal to find her son’s suspected killer, Josh’s mother Tracey added: “Brooke and I count down the days, hours and minutes hoping and praying that we receive a call to tell us that Shane O’Brien has been arrested, so that we can grieve and mourn Josh in peace.

“Our lives will never be the same without Josh and I would not wish our living nightmare on anyone, it is a pain that no words alone can describe.

“Someone, somewhere also knows where O’Brien is and can change the pain and uncertainty that each day brings for us. We ask you to try and imagine the emptiness that we have been left to live with, please, please, please do the right thing and make that call or encourage someone else to."

Scotland Yard today launched a fresh appeal to find the suspect and have called on pilots and crew working on private jets, boats and helicopters to come forward with any information.

Any partners of O’Brien have also been asked to come forward along with a tattoo artist who covered up an inking that read ‘Shannon 15-04-06’ with a large, distinctive owl holding a skull.

O’Brien, who has grown his hair since the attack in what police believe is a bid to change his appearance, is known to have been in Prague last year.

He was arrested in the Czech city last February using the alias Enzo Melloncelli and bailed pending further enquiries.

Information also indicates he may have travelled to Dubai and Gibraltar after leaving the UK from Biggin Hill airport in south-east London.

O’Brien is likely to frequent nightclubs and boxing gyms wherever he visits, police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said: “Obviously he will not be travelling under his own name but O’Brien has an air about him, a presence he will struggle to conceal.

“I’d ask private pilots for both planes and helicopters and those involved in the aircraft industry to keep their eyes and ears open. Equally O'Brien could be using ports and private boats.

“Based on what we know about O’Brien’s lifestyle and interests, we are looking to people in nightclubs and boxing gyms as well as ex-pats and any women he may have become involved with to come forward.

“Those who have been in close proximity to him may well have seen his distinctive and rather poor quality cover-up tattoo of an owl holding a skull.”

O’Brien, from Ladbroke Grove, is described as a 6ft tall white man with grey eyes and dark brown hair.

A £50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.

Anyone with information about O’Brien or his whereabouts can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org, the police incident room on 020 8785 8099 or the National Crime Agency’s public line on 0370 496 7622, which is staffed 24 hours a day.