Three Pakistani nationals were killed in Britain’s second largest city on Wednesday while protecting their community from rioters and looters, British police said. The three were struck by a car that mounted a pavement on Dudley Road on Wednesday morning.
According to Birmingham police, the men had been drawn into an argument with looters as they defended a mosque and businesses in Wilson Green from rioters. Police said they had arrested a man and launched a murder inquiry after the incident, which happened at around 1am. They asked for witnesses to come forward and said forensics would examine the vehicle that had run over the men, which had been seized. Around 80 bystanders were said to have witnessed the incident.
Two of the victims, identified as Haroon Hussain (32) and Shahzad Hussain (30), brothers who hailed from Gujar Khan, were pronounced dead on the scene, while the third man identified as Mansoor Ali, 22, died in hospital. He also hailed from Gujar Khan. Paramedics confirmed that all three Pakistanis had been hit by a car. An angry crowd from the Asian community later converged outside the City Hospital in Birmingham.
“They lost their lives for other people, doing the job of the police,” Mohammed Shakiel said. Several cars drove past the group as it was guarding the stores and the occupants shouted abuse before one vehicle returned and mounted the pavement at “tremendous speed” and hit the men, throwing them into the air, Shakiel added.
SICKNESS: British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed grief at the death of the three British Pakistanis at the hands of rioters. He said a “fightback” was underway as he authorised police to use water cannon for the first time on the mainland. Cameron said there was a “sickness” in British society. “We needed a fightback and a fightback is underway,” Cameron told a news conference outside 10 Downing Street.
“We now have in place contingency plans for water cannon to be available at 24 hours’ notice,” Cameron said, adding that police had already been authorised to use plastic baton rounds against rioters.
VIOLENT INCIDENTS: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan, meanwhile, called upon the British Pakistani community to immediately report to the police and the high commission or the nearest consulate if they faced any incident of violence.
MINISTER STUCK: Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports and Culture Minister Syed Aqil Shah was reportedly stuck in the riots in London. Shah had gone to London on a private visit to represent Pakistan in a meeting on the Olympic Games.
Maybe its time to bring in our soldiers ? I cant quite understand why the government hasn't done so already. With orders to shoot them in the legs.. that should stop them! Its gone past the softly softly approach of water and rubber bullets, they'll still keep coming back until more drastic measures are taken.
everyone involved in taking part with these riots should all be held accountable for these mens deaths,not just the driver of the car.. For had the riots not started then these men would still be alive. They are all answerable to murder as they are all acting as one.
These three youngsters were born in UK and as such are half-Pakistani. The British Police is investigating the death and we all must be sure that it will be done in a fair way and not like we see in our own country. Yes it is a very tragic incident and my heart goes for the grieved families. Father of these youngsters though Paindu Production but speaks English better than Tony Blair which confirms about their nationality no matter whether it is duel. Our Media strangely is giving twist as usual.
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