A man shot dead in a car in Wembley yesterday morning has been formally named by police as Abdul Hadi Arwani.

The father-of-six, a British national born in Syria, was found dead in a car parked in Greenhill at the junction off The Paddocks, yards from the former Brent Town Hall building.

Mr Arwani, an outspoken critic of the Assad regime in Syria, was an imam at the An Noor mosque in Acton, west London, from 2005-2011.

Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) are leading the investigation which will look into any contacts or associates Mr Arwani had in the UK and abroad including Syria.

Speaking outside his home in East Acton, west London, his son Morhaf Arwani, 20, said: “We are at a loss to understand what is behind this. At the moment we know as much as you do.

“The local community will be gathering at 7pm this evening at a location in Park Royal but the media are not invited.

“They can ask questions to those who attended outside if they wish.”

A post mortem to determine Mr Arwani’s cause of death will take place tomorrow.

Police are appealing to anyone who saw the dark coloured Volkswagen Passat Mr Arwani in the area after 10am to come forward.

Any witnesses or with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.