Video: Three teens held in shopkeeper murder hunt

POLICE today arrested three teenagers on suspicion of robbing and murdering Huddersfield shopkeeper Gurmail Singh.

Detectives arrested two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old from the Huddersfield area.

Father-of-three Mr Singh, 63, died aftr being bludgeoneed by robbers at his shop in Cowcliffe, Huddersfield, at the weekend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A police spokesman said the three were arrested in connection with the murder and with an earlier robbery at the store on February 18.

Speaking outside the shop, Detective Superintendent Dave Pervin said he still needed information from the public.

He said those arrested are being held in connection with the murder and an incident at Mr Singh's shop on Thursday, when he tried to stop youths from stealing goods from his store.

DS Pervin made a direct appeal to those involved in the attack on Mr Singh - "they know who they are", he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The spotlight is already directly upon them and I call on them to do the right thing and hand themselves in now before we knock at their door and arrest them."

Mr Pervin also asked local people to come forward if they have CCTV operating in the area.

The three people in custody are all from Huddersfield and are being forensically examined before questioning.

Earlier, Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman paid tribute in the Commons to Mr Singh.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She told MPs: "I want to express my sincerest condolences to the family for what is an absolutely tragic loss of life, an absolutely tragic situation.

"I know that it's something obviously felt not only very deeply by his immediate family but by the whole neighbourhood and I pay tribute to those who, from the local pub, went to his aid."

Her remarks came during Commons exchanges on forthcoming parliamentary business.

Labour's Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) said Mr Singh had been "much-loved and respected" and asked whether it would be an appropriate time to debate the values of small shops.

Commons Leader Ms Harman said the Government took "every step" to ensure that corner shops were supported.