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More police in Birmingham murder hunt and e-fit issued

Source: Redditch Advertiser

Extra officers have been drafted in by West Mercia Police to deal with the public response to appeals for information following the murder of taxi driver Mohammed Arshad at Hopwood.

A reconstruction of events leading up to the murder was screened on BBC’s Crimewatch programme on September 2 and immediately generated 40 calls from members of the public, providing fresh lines of inquiry. More information has continued to filter into the Major Incident Room at Redditch, resulting in 10 additional detectives being drafted in to work on the investigation, which is now in its seventh week. That brings the number of detectives working on the case to around 60.

Dc Supt Sheila Thornes, who is leading the hunt, said: “There has been a good public response to our appeals and we would like to thank each and every person who has taken the trouble to pick up the phone. Information is also being passed on to officers visiting homes on the Hawkesley estate where we have had good co-operation from residents.

“In any inquiry like this there are literally thousands of items which need to be analysed, checked and processed – and that obviously takes time. A vast amount of information is coming into the investigation team and now we have brought in extra resources to ensure that all of that is actioned as quickly as possible.

“This is still a very active and dynamic investigation and there will be no let up until we have brought the killer to justice.”

Inquiries are still focused on identifying a man calling himself Peter who was picked up by Mr Arshad outside Broadmeadow School in Monyhull Hall Road, Kings Norton, on Wednesday, July 22, after phoning A Cars for a taxi at about 8.20pm.

Mr Arshad was found stabbed in the head in Wast Hills Lane shortly afterwards and his blue Ford Galaxy people carrier was later discovered abandoned in Shannon Road.

A blue people carrier taxi was involved in a near head-on collision with a woman driving in Longbridge Lane, Birmingham, at 8.36pm on the evening of the attack and police have appealed for the driver to come forward in order to establish whether it was Mr Arshad’s vehicle.

A £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mr Arshad’s killer is still on offer and anyone with information should call police at Redditch on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Source: BBC News

Police have released an e-fit of a man they want to speak to in connection with the murder of a taxi driver who was stabbed in the head several times.

Mohammed Arshad, 36, was found after being attacked in Kings Norton, Birmingham, on 22 July.

Detectives compiled the image following a call from a member of the public.

The caller reported seeing a man making a telephone call from a kiosk in another part of Kings Norton the night of the attack.

Police said they knew that at about 2020 BST a man, calling himself Peter, rang Mr Arshad’s taxi firm A Cars from the kiosk outside the Spar store in Lindsworth Approach.

He asked to be picked up from outside nearby Broadmeadow School in Monyhull Hall Road, and Mr Arshad was sent to collect him.

‘Staring intently’

The man described by the latest witness was seen in the phone box shortly after 2000 BST.

Police said the member of the public told them how that man had stared at them intently as he walked towards the shop.

The man was described as being slim, about 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, with dark brown or black hair which was short and brushed forward.

He wore a dark, long-sleeved top and jeans.

Det Supt Sheila Thornes said she hoped someone would recognise the man in the e-fit and urged anyone with information to contact police.

Earlier this week, West Mercia Police said it had drafted in extra detectives to help follow up leads which emerged after a BBC Crimewatch appeal.

A £10,000 reward has been offered to find the taxi driver’s killers.