Further arrests after man stabbed to death in park

Police were called to a disturbance in Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury on Saturday

A further six men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death in a park in West Yorkshire.

The 36-year-old man died after officers were called to a disturbance involving a group of men in Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury Moor, on Saturday night, a West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said.

The men arrested are aged between 18 and 44, with some being arrested in Kirklees and some outside West Yorkshire. The arrests bring the total number of men in custody to nine.

Police said crime scenes remained in place at the park and on nearby Pilgrim Drive and Pilgrim Crescent, while detailed forensic searches took place.

People who live near the park have spoken of their shock at what happened.

Mohammed Sadiq, 50, knew the man who died and said he played in the park as a child.

"It's sad, I used to be a taxi driver and I used to pick him up a lot, he was a very popular guy," he said.

"It makes you realise that life is too short.

"He has grown up around here, he played around here when he was a kid.

"I hope his family find peace and they can find a way to get through this. It's going to be very hard for them.

"He was a good lad, it's unfortunate what's happened."

Mr Sadiq said he felt safe at the park, but it did make him wary about what had happened so close to his home.

Brian and Glenys Asquith visit the park regularly to walk their dog

Brian and Glenys Asquith said they walked in the park several times a week.

Mrs Asquith, 79, said it was a "lovely park" and they loved visiting it.

But Mr Asquith, 78, said: "You used to see a policeman walking around nearly every week, but you don't see anything now.

"I think it's a deterioration of our law and order, it's everywhere."

Mo, who lives nearby, said he had heard about the man's death on Saturday night, through a video on social media.

"It shouldn't have happened, it's not good something like this happening," he said.

"I've been coming here for years so to be honest I do feel safe here, it's nothing to do with the park."

An area around Pilgrim Drive remains cordoned off by police

Susan Master, 64, said she often visited the park with her grandchildren and it was "unbelievable" what had happened.

"It's absolutely terrible, I don't know what's gone on but somebody's life has been lost here," she said.

"It is such a shame because it's a lovely park, it is unbelievable what's happened. I feel sorry for the family I really do.

"Such a young life taken, it's really, really terrible."

Flowers have been left at the entrance to the park, in tribute to the man who died.

Mrs Master added: "I saw the flowers first thing this morning when I brought my grandchild to school, and I felt so sorry for them.

"We always come for a walk around here and we enjoy it so much, it is frightening to know what's gone on.

"A young life taken like that for whatever reason, it's not good enough is it?"

She added that she did feel scared, but needed to carry on as "you can't let something like this change everything".

Det Ch Insp James Entwistle said: "Wide ranging and fast moving enquiries remain ongoing with a large number of arrests now made."

He said the force was "working tirelessly to establish the full circumstances of the fatal attack" and that there was believed to be no threat to other members of the public.

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