Police appeal to community in hunt for killer

Mr Hussain, a married father-of-one, died from shock and blood loss after receiving a severe neck injury from a heavy bladed weapon. His body was discovered after a fire at his family home in Bradford on January 12.

Yesterday detectives said they were keen to discover potentially crucial details about his mystery business dealings and past in Bradford – information which police believe could help to unmask Mr Hussain’s killer and provide a motive for the murder.

West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team has set up special phone lines staffed by Urdu and Punjabi speaking officers who are able to understand dialects, including Mirpuri, which will be open today to encourage residents to ring in with vital information.

Det Supt Paul Taylor said: “Inquires are continuing around the clock into this crime but what we really need is information from within Amjad’s local community in Bradford about his background and business.

“This was a hard working man who we believe had a number of private business dealings which are something of a mystery to us at the moment and may prove significant to inquiries. These were to support his family and it is vital we learn more about these to uncover why someone would want to kill him.

“Amjad was murdered in a particularly brutal and calculated fashion and we need to get the person responsible off the streets as soon as possible.”

Forty detectives and staff are investigating the murder of the well-known 31-year-old.

His body was found at just after 1pm at the family home on Rylstone Gardens, in Undercliffe, Bradford, on Thursday, January 12, after firefighters responded to reports of a fire from neighbours.

Police said last night the fire set at the property was merely started to destroy evidence.

Inquiries are continuing into the background of the dead man who is from the Mirpur district of Pakistan and came to Bradford about 10 years ago. He is married and the father of a nine-year-old son.

Mr Hussain, who worked at the Four Seasons restaurant, in Burley in Wharfedale, returned home from work at about 1.30am on the Thursday and was seen by his wife at around 8am as she went to work.

Detectives say investigations have so far shown that all appeared safe and well at the home until the fire was reported at around 1pm.

Det Supt Paul Taylor said the phone lines will be available until 11pm today, for members of the Pakistani communities who want to speak in their native language.

Mr Taylor said: “I can promise all information received will be handled sensitively and I would urge anyone who knows Amjad or had details about his lifestyle and business away from work and home to contact us as a matter of urgency.

“Someone out there knows why he died and we need to hear from them.

The specialist phone line can be contacted on 01924 334711. People can also be make calls in confidence to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.