A MAN has spoken of his shame and disgust at his part in a firebombing that left eight people dead.

Shaied Iqbal, 26, of Springdale Road, Thornton Lodge, has denied eight charges of murder, conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit arson to motor vehicles. He has admitted conspiracy to commit criminal damage to motor vehicles.

The attack took place at a house in Osborne Road, Birkby, on May 12 last year.

Giving evidence at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, Iqbal said his role had only been to damage 18-year-old Ateeq Ur-Rehman's Nissan Sunny car by hurling two stones at the windows.

Ateeq, who died in the blaze, was said to have been "slagging off" Iqbal and Shahid Mohammed, who was also involved in the attack. Shahid Mohammed has yet to be traced by police.

Iqbal, a former student of Greenhead College, Huddersfield, also told the jury how Shahid Mohammed and Mohammed Arif Siddiq had said they were "100 per cent sure" there was nobody in the house before the petrol bombing that left five children and three adults dead.

Speaking of his emotions he said: "You can't describe feelings like that. Shame. Disgust. It's five kids. None of us intended to hurt anyone that night."

He added: "I knew the house was going to get bombed. I'm as guilty as the people who chucked the petrol bombs. I'm as guilty as the people sitting in the cars.

"But none of us, none of us, wanted to go and hurt anyone."

Iqbal explained how the firebombing was planned when the gang met up at Sam's Autos in Viaduct Street, Huddersfield, on May 11.

As the evening unfolded and details of a plan to attack a car and then a house were revealed to him, he said he became increasingly worried.

He told the jury he had been involved in another court case in Newcastle at the time and wanted to avoid any trouble.

The gang made four petrol bombs at Sam's Autos.

When he learned the house would be attacked he said: "I went up to the rest of the lads and said: `Whose idea is it to do the house?' Mohammed Siddiq said: `Chill, baby, chill. It's empty. The house is empty'."

Earlier in the evening Iqbal said he had been picked up from his home by Intizar Hussain and Nazar Hussain.

He was wearing a cream top.

"They said get back inside and get another top, a hooded top, a black top."

Iqbal was sent to fetch petrol with Nazar Hussain. Iqbal filled a green plastic canister with fuel paid for by Nazar Hussain.

Later Iqbal went to fetch a takeaway. When he returned, he found Shakiel Shazad, Mohammed Siddiq, Intizar Hussain, Anwar Hussain and Nazar Hussain making petrol bombs.

Iqbal said his plea to be taken home was laughed at.

"Everybody was just up for it. They just wanted to get it over and done with."

Mohammed Siddiq told Iqbal he was getting paid by Shahid Mohammed. Nazar Hussain and Anwar Hussain were also promised a £600 black market key for their BMW for taking part.

He said while they were at the garage Mohammed Siddiq gave a metal bar to Shahid Mohammed saying: "This is to break the front window and then throw the petrol bombs in."

Iqbal told the jury: "At that stage everyone was thinking the petrol bomb was going to be thrown at the outside of the house and not actually in the house."

Iqbal's role was to damage the car with two stones. Shahid Mohammed was to smash the front room window with an iron bar allowing Shakiel Shazad to throw firebombs inside while Nazar Hussain poured petrol through the letter box from a canister.

Intizar Hussain, Anwar Hussain and Mohammed Siddiq were to wait in two getaway cars in nearby Clement Street.

The trial continues.

THE CHARGES

FOUR men are on trial at Leeds Crown Court:

* Shaied Iqbal, 26, of Springdale Road, Thornton Lodge, denies eight charges of murder, conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit arson to motor vehicles. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal damage to motor vehicles.

* Shakiel Shazad, 23, of Gledholt Road, Gledholt, denies eight counts of murder and conspiracy to commit arson. He pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal damage to motor vehicles, but guilty to conspiracy to commit arson to motor vehicles.

* Nazar Hussain, 24, of Dryclough Road, Crosland Moor, denies eight counts of murder and conspiracy to commit criminal damage to motor vehicles. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson to motor vehicles.

* Anwar Hussain, 22, of Dryclough Road, Crosland Moor, denies conspiracy to commit arson to cars.

The fire claimed the lives of eight people at their home in Osborne Road, Birkby. The victims were: Mrs Zaib-u-Nisa, 54; her son, Ateeq, 18; her daughter, Mrs Nafeesa Aziz, 35; and her five grand-daughters - Tayyaba, 13, Rabiah, 10, Ateeqa, six, Aneesa, two, and Najeeba, six months.