Police have increased a reward to £20,000 for information leading to Britain’s “most wanted fugitive” who is wanted in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old man from Kingsbury.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Shane O'Brien has been named as a suspectShane O'Brien has been named as a suspect (Image: Archant)

Shane O’Brien, 27, of Ladbroke Grove disappeared days after Josh Hanson was fatally stabbed in the neck in a brutal attack inside the RE bar in Eastcote on October 11 last year.

Detectives issued a European arrest warrant and in March O’Brien was added to the most wanted list by Crimestoppers and the National Crime Agency.

He is now believed to be in Dubai after initial sightings in the Netherlands.

He is described as a white man, 6ft tall, with grey eyes and short dark brown hair. He has a tattoo on his back saying ‘Shannon 15-04-06’ and may use the name Troy O’Brien.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Appeal posters have been put up all over the worldAppeal posters have been put up all over the world (Image: Archant)

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, from the Met’s homicide and major crime command, said: “We hope the offer of this substantial reward will encourage anyone with information to come forward and help us detain O’Brien.

“Clearly O’Brien is being helped by other people to evade police - some of those allegedly assisting him have already been arrested. The fact that O’Brien is moving from country to country demonstrates he has the means to travel without using his own identity. So we would ask people to look closely at O’Brien’s photo and if you recognise him contact us.

“While our information links O’Brien to Dubai, we have taken calls about potential sightings across the world which have all been followed up.

We really need the public’s help. - please share O’Brien’s ‘wanted poster’ both online and in premises and if you have information don’t assume it’s something we already know, you could hold that crucial clue.”

Tracy Hanson, mother of Josh Hanson told Brent & Kilburn Times in January of her family’s determination to bring the person responsible for her son’s death to justice.

She said: “It has been eight-and-a-half months since my son and Brooke’s brother Josh was murdered in an unprovoked knife attack and we are still fighting for justice. Not a single second, minute or hour of the day goes by without us not being able to properly grieve or mourn for Josh as Shane O Brien, the man police would like to speak to in connection with Josh’s murder, is still at large.

“We are asking the public to help in any way they can, if you have the slightest doubt in your mind as to whether you think you may have seen Shane O’ Brien or know someone who has, please come forward and help us get justice.

“Our lives will never ever be the same without Josh and it just gets harder and harder every day, so please if you have any information at all no matter how small or irrelevant you think it may be, please call the police.”

Two men have been arrested as part of the investigation. Detectives arrested a 24-year-old man and a 29-year-old man- who were on an inbound flight to the UK- on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender on Wednesday October 28 last year.

Both were taken to a London police station and bailed pending further enquiries and are next due to return on a date in early September.

O’Brien should not be approached by members of the public.

Any sightings of him should be reported to police immediately on 999.

Download the poster here