Sponsored by
Fresh appeal to trace man wanted over arson deaths
SIX years after eight members of the same family perished in a fatal house fire, police are renewing their appeal for help tracing a man they want to question.
As the anniversary of the blaze on Osborne Road in Birkby, Huddersfield, approaches, detectives are appealing to friends and associates of Shahid Mohammed to tell them where he is. Today members of the victims' family are expected to add their voice to calls for information at a press conference.
Mohammed, 25, has not been seen since he was released on police bail after being arrested in connection with the fatal fire on May 12, 2002.
Muhammad Ateeq-ur-Rehman, 18; Nefessa Aziz, 35; Tayyaba Batool, 13; Rabia Batool, 10; Ateeqa Nawaz, five; Aneesa Nawaz, two; and six-month-old Najeeba Nawaz all died in the fire.
Zaib-un-Nisa, 54, died in hospital a week later.
Det Chief Insp John Halstead, who is leading the investigation, said Mohammed is known to have strong links with Pakistan but also with London, Birmingham and Leicester.
He said: "West Yorkshire Police, via the family liaison officers, have regular contact with the Chisti family who cannot draw a line to these tragic circumstances when Shahid Mohammed is still at large.
"People may have protected or assisted Shahid in evading arrest and I specifically want to appeal to friends and associates of Shahid Mohammed to examine their conscience and to give information as to his whereabouts."
In July 2003, at Leeds Crown Court, Shaied Iqbal, 26, of Springdale Road, Thornton Lodge, Huddersfield, was found guilty of eight murders and jailed for life.
Shakiel Shazad, 23, of Gledholt Road, Gledholt, and Nazar Hussain, 24, of Dryclough Road, Crosland Moor, both Huddersfield, were each convicted of manslaughter and given concurrent 18-year sentences.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Three-inch blanket of snow heading our way today
- Alan Shearer in list of favourites for Leeds and England jobs: Latest odds
- Barnsley’s Keith Hill invokes Fawlty Towers over link with Leeds job
- McCormack feels United search can be narrowed down
- Redfearn throws down gauntlet as queue builds at Elland Road
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
