The Glasgow community is reeling after a beloved Muslim shopkeeper was murdered Friday in front of his store. Locals have organized vigils in his honor and have been praying and hoping for justice on social media.
Asad Shah, 40, owned Shah's Newsagents in the southside Glasgow, Scotland. He was near his store Thursday when the unknown suspects attacked him, stomped on his head and stabbed him several times, authorities said. The attackers scampered off, leaving Shah in a pool of his own blood.
Police officers, who arrived minutes later, performed CPR at the scene and rushed Shah to Queen's Elizabeth University Hospital, where he died, authorities said.
On Friday, Glasgow Police arrested a 32-year-old man in relation to the assault, according to the BBC. The site reported that police are treating the murder as a "religiously motivated" crime.
Popular newsagent Asad Shah named locally as man stabbed to death on Minard Rd in Glasgow. This is the scene today. pic.twitter.com/vShchoqWKX— Connor Gillies (@ConnorGillies) March 25, 2016
"Mr Shah was a popular, well respected and much loved member of our community and his death has devastated many. He was a warm and friendly man and he always went out of his way to make time to talk to you - he was more than just our local shopkeeper. He was a friend to many," wrote one of his customers on a GoFundMe page set up for Shah's family.
Just hours before his death, the popular shopkeeper left a note on his Facebook, wishing Christians a happy easter and Good Friday.
"Good Friday and a very Happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation... Let's follow the real footstep of beloved holy Jesus Christ and get the real success in both worlds," he wrote. Shah often posted videos of himself praying for peace on his YouTube page.
Tributes to Shah poured in on Twitter under the hashtag #ThisIsNotWhoWeAre, and mourners have left flowers and notes outside Shah's Newsagents and the local police station.
Talking to #LittleBrave about the #vigil for #MrShah tonight, he asks "Why would someone kill him daddy?"#ThisIsNotWhoWeAre— Umar Ansari (@uansari78) March 25, 2016
Mr Shah, You reached out and touched our hearts. We miss you. #thisisnotwhoweare #shawlands— susan macgregor (@soozie_sue) March 25, 2016
Vigil on #Minard Rd in Glasgow at 9pm tonight where Asad Shah was stabbed to death. People asked to bring daffodils pic.twitter.com/PJRgyUD999— Connor Gillies (@ConnorGillies) March 25, 2016
Very sad to hear Asad Shah has been murdered. When I lived in Shawlands, I always used to buy from him. Glasgow is a dark place right now— Georgia (@smokingkiIls) March 25, 2016
Locals organized a silent vigil for Shah Friday evening in southside Glasgow.