Just before 2am on the morning of May 12, 2002, a major fire at a house on Osborne Road in Birkby, Huddersfield, lead to the deaths of eight members of the same family.
Muhammad Ateeq-ur-Rehman aged 18, Nefessa Aziz aged 35, Tayyaba Batool aged 13, Rabia Batool aged 10, Ateeqa Nawaz aged 5, Aneesa Nawaz aged 2 and 6 month old Najeeba Nawaz all died in the fire. Zaib-un-Nisa aged 54 died in hospital a week later on Sunday May 19th.
The investigation that followed the blaze soon became the largest multiple murder investigation that West Yorkshire Police had taken on in nearly 30 years.
In July, 2003, three Huddersfield men – Shakiel Shazad, Shaied Iqbal and Nasar Hussain were convicted for their part in the crime.
Also arrested in connection with the murder investigation was then 20-year old Shahid Mohammed. He was released on bail but fled and is believed to have left the country, possibly going to Pakistan to avoid justice.
Now, on the 9th anniversary of the fire, police are renewing an appeal for information on the whereabouts of Shahid Mohammed.
Detective Superintendent Sukhbir Singh of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who is leading the investigation to find Shahid Mohammed said: “For nine years, the Chisti family have had to live with the fact that not every person responsible for what happened in May 2002 has been brought to justice.
“This fact is not something that we are prepared to ignore and we are as determined as ever to trace Shahid Mohammed and are again appealing for people with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
“Whilst he could be in Pakistan and was known to have strong links to people in London, Birmingham and Leicester, I believe that someone in the local community is holding onto information that could help us find him.
“No matter how small the information may be that person could hold the key to us finding Shahid Mohammed and helping give the Chisti family closure.”
Anyone who could further assist this investigation should call Huddersfield Police on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
