Man arrested over the murder of Anthony Bird in London 41 years ago - suspect then sectioned

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a man who was found naked, bound and strangled at his home nearly 41 years ago.

Detectives investigating the murder of Anthony Bird, then 41, in 1980 made an arrest yesterday.

On Wednesday, May 5, a 59-year-old man was arrested at a west London police station on suspicion of murder.

He has been released under investigation in relation to the murder but has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

ARCHIVE News cutting from the time (Daily Mirror)

On 6 June 1980, officers attended a residential property in Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, west London, after concerns were raised about the occupant of the address.

Mr Bird was found dead inside the property.

Reports at the time said police visited gay bars in the area as part of the investigation due to the circumstances in which his body was found.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of his death was strangulation.

Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command are appealing for any of Anthony's relatives to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8309.