Birmingham violence: Families praise calm reactions

The families of three men killed when they were hit by a car in Birmingham during the riots have praised people for remaining calm following the event.

Tariq Jahan, father of Haroon Jahan, thanked everyone in the country for their condolences and thanked young people for staying calm.

Extra time has been granted for police to quiz three of five people people being held following the deaths.

Haroon Jahan, 21, Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died on Wednesday.

The five people held on suspicion of murder are aged between 16 and 28.

Two were arrested late on Friday. Police have until 22:00 BST to question the other three - two boys aged 16 and 17 and a 26-year-old man.

A 32-year-old man arrested on Wednesday has been bailed.

Supt Richard Baker said officers had already recovered two cars, one a burnt out Mazda which was found close to the crime scene and the other a black Ford Fiesta.

He said police were looking for a black Audi A3 which was nearby at the time of the deaths.

'Pure criminal act'

Mr Jahan said he wanted to thank people for their kind words and condolences.

Haroon Jahan, Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir died after being hit by a car during Tuesday's disorder

"I have received much mail internationally," he said.

Referring to an earlier appeal he made for calm, he said: "I want to thank the community, especially the young people for listening to what I had to say and saying calm.

"Thank you very much to the young generation."

Mr Jahan was appearing with family members of brothers Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir.

The three men were killed as they gathered in Dudley Road to try to protect properties in the area from looters.

The brothers' uncle, Abdullah Khan, said the families wanted justice.

"This was not about race, this was not about religion.

"This was about a pure criminal act," he said.

He said his nephews were hard working young men who had wanted to protect their business and other people's.

"I remember talking to Shazad a few days before and he was looking forward to the birth of his first child in a few months but that was not meant to be," he said.

The families appealed for witnesses to the men's deaths.

CCTV images

A peace gathering has been arranged at Summerfield Park in Dudley Road on Sunday.

The event will be a memorial to the three men as well as a chance for faith and community leaders and the people of Birmingham to come together to condemn the violence.

Tariq Jahan made a previous appeal for calm following his son's death in Winson Green

A total of 509 people across the West Midlands have been arrested following the disorder and police said one Handsworth mother escorted her 15-year-old daughter to a police station having recognised her image from a CCTV media appeal.

A man from Stirchley, Birmingham, also handed himself in to police after seeing a CCTV picture of himself.

Det Ch Insp Steven Reed said arrests were being made around the clock.

"It's also encouraging offenders themselves are coming forward to admit their actions were unacceptable, and responsible parents who suspect their children may have been involved are also taking positive action," he said.

Courts in the West Midlands have been sitting on Saturday to deal with those arrested.

CCTV images of people suspected of taking part in disorder across the West Midlands earlier in the week will be shown at football matches.

Images will be shown on big screens at St Andrews on Saturday when Birmingham City play Coventry City.

And it is hoped they will be shown on Sunday at The Hawthorns when West Bromwich Albion play Manchester United.

Meanwhile, a screen showing images of people suspected of involvement in disorder in Birmingham will continue to be shown to shoppers on Saturday.

Pictures of more than 50 people caught on camera during the trouble will be driven round the city in the hope shoppers will identify them.