Can you help find Huddersfield's most wanted man?
Police are asking people to rack their brains and keep their eyes open as they continue the hunt for a man wanted in connection with an arson attack which claimed the lives of eight members of the same Huddersfield family.
Shahid Mohammed was arrested after the blaze on Osborne Road, Birkby, in which eight members of the Chishti family were killed.
However Mohammed fled and has remained at large since failing to answer police bail.
Six-month-old Najeebah Nawaz, Aneesa Nawaz aged two, Tayyaba Bootall aged three, Ateeqa Nawaz aged five, Rabiah Bootall aged 10, Muhammed Ateeq-Ur-Rehman aged 18, Nafeesa Aziz aged 35 and all died in the fire at 40 Osborne Road on May 12, 2002 and 54-year old Zaib-U-Nisa died in hospital a week later.
Using age progression technology an image has been created depicting what Shahid Mohammed could look like now.
Click on the links below to view these images
Click here to view image one of Shahid Mohammed created using ageing software
Click here to view image two of Shahid Mohammed created using ageing software
Detective Superintendent Lisa Griffin of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who is leading the investigation to find Shahid Mohammed said: “It’s essential we find Shahid Mohammed, not only to bring him to justice but also to provide some closure for the Chishti family.
“For more than a decade now they have had to live with losing their loved ones in such a horrific way and knowing that not every person connected with the fire has been brought to account.
“Using the age progression process we have been able to create an image of what Shahid Mohammed could look like now and we are asking if people have seen this man or who may know his whereabouts to get in touch.
“My investigation team with the support of local NPT Officers are spending time in local communities across Kirklees reminding people what happened during the early hours of May 12, 2002 in an attempt trace and locate Shahid Mohammed.
“Since the fire the family have remained dignified but have had to allow their lives to carry on despite knowing so many lives were cut short, babies should have grown up to be children, children into teenagers and teenagers into adults.
“The investigation that followed the blaze became the largest multiple murder investigation that West Yorkshire Police had handled in nearly 30 years and we remain as determined as ever to trace Shahid Mohammed.
"I strongly believe that someone in the local community knows something about Shahid Mohammed that could help the Chishti family end their pain.
"I am appealing for that person to come forward and tell us what they know about Shahid Mohammed - a man involved in mass murder. They can also contact us anonymously, via Crimestoppers.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire Mark Burns Williamson said: “Shahid Mohammed has been on the run now for more than ten years prolonging the agony of the Chishti family.
“Detectives have been hunting for him since his disappearance and believe the local community holds the key to finding him which makes the action of officers today essential.
“I would urge people to look at the age progression photo and speak to the police if they have seen Shahid Mohammed or who may know where he is.
“Eight members of the same family lost their lives in such tragic circumstances and the remaining members deserve to see all the people responsible brought to justice.”
Shafique, Hameed, Majid and Siddaqah, members of the Chishti family said: “We have lived our life in a law abiding, respectable and peaceful manner. We have never caused offence, or done anything to harm anyone.
“The head of the family, Mr Chishti, came to England over thirty years ago, leaving his job as a teacher in Pakistan to work as an Imam in a mosque in England. He studied at university and became a college lecturer in the Yorkshire area. We have been brought up to respect our heritage but integrate into the community of Huddersfield and make positive contributions to the area.
“We have worked all our lives and have strong ties in our neighbourhood with both English and Asian friends.
“The night of May 12, 2002 changed our lives forever, our family was torn apart. Losing our Mum, older sister, youngest brother and five nieces, is something which we will never get over. Our brother in law Rab Nawaz Khan lost his wife and five daughters in this fire and to this day, he remains devastated.
“Someone, somewhere knows where Shahid Mohammed is at this moment. We beg of you to come forward and help the Police to bring him to justice. There is a reward of £10,000 offered, but we would give everything we possess to see this man captured and receive his just deserts. He is enjoying living his life, but we are trapped in the grief of knowing that our loved ones, will never again bring happiness to our lives.”
