Who is Carl Banks in Line of Duty?
LINE of Duty's season six opener threw viewers headfirst into a new mystery.
Operation Lighthouse is underway, and we've got new leads into the murder of journalist Gail Vella and one suspect is Carl Banks. Here's what we know about him..
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Who is Carl Banks?
Line of Duty season six introduces us to a new suspect in the Gail Vella killing.
That suspect is Carl Banks, who appears to be an OCG member - although nothing is certain as of yet.
DS Steve Arnott tells DCI Hastings: “One initial line of inquiry in Vella was a contract killing.
"According to my informant on the Hill, Operation Lighthouse has detected forensic evidence linking to this suspect, Carl Banks. Carl Banks has an extensive history of violence, including firearms offences, and a long association with organised crime.”
Is Carl Banks the real 'Ross Turner'?
In the first episode of season six, we see Terry Boyle held as one of the main suspects in Gail Vella's murder investigation.
He was arrested on police based on information from a CHIS (covert human intelligence source) that a man named Ross Turner bragged he was involved in killing Gail Vella.
Thinking they knew where 'Turner' was living, police raided a flat in Beechwood house, where they found Terry.
But it appears he was set up by a man named Carl Banks, who planted evidence in Terry's flat to frame him.
But the CHIS who passed on the information to the police is now dead, so the real identity of Ross Turner will require some more digging.
Is Carl Banks related to Lee Banks?
We don't know yet whether Carl is related to OCG member Lee Banks , who appeared in season five.
He is an organised crime mastermind and career criminal. Last season we saw him shoot Sergeant Jane Cafferty and slit the throat of PC Maneet Bindra.
He was eventually thrown behind bars after being caught by AC-12.
It is thought that Lee Banks is still locked up in HMP Blackthorn.
Has Carl Banks been in Line of Duty before?
This is Carl Banks first appearance on the show.
In fact, as of episode one, we haven't even met him in person.
He has only appeared through a mugshot - but it seems that's set to change.