POLICE will make a national plea for help to trace a man wanted in connection with Huddersfield's worst-ever mass murder.

Twenty-year-old Shahid Mohammed was arrested in the early stages of the investigation into the Birkby house blaze which claimed the lives of eight members of the same family on May 12 last year.

He was released on bail pending further inquiries and then vanished.

Now police will make a nationwide appeal through TV's Crimewatch UK on BBC1 at 9pm tomorrow in a bid to find him.

There is a reward on offer for information.

Det Insp John Halstead, who is now leading the investigation, said all inquiries had so far failed to trace Shahid, but potential sightings of him had included places as diverse as Pakistan, Wales, Birmingham and London.

He said: "We have had a number of people saying that other people have seen Shahid, but we want people who have actually seen him since the day he disappeared to come forward and talk to us.

"This would help to clarify other information we have received."

Det Insp Halstead added: "Shahid's details were previously circulated to all police forces and all ports of exit from the country have been alerted to his identity.

"This is the second time we have made an appeal through Crimewatch.

"We had several calls after the last programme and did follow them up, but without success.

"We want the public to know who this man is and make it more difficult for him to remain in hiding."

Det Insp Halstead added: "It is possible he may have changed his appearance and he might be using a different name.

"But someone, somewhere, knows where he is and I would urge them to contact us.

"Police are also holding talks with legal and diplomatic officials in a bid to ensure that if Shahid is traced abroad he can be brought back to Britain to face justice.

There was also a heartfelt appeal from Mohammed Shafiq, one of the survivors of the blaze.

He said: "It was a terrible crime, the worst in Huddersfield, and it is terrible to think that someone may be shielding a man who may have been involved."

The fire killed five children aged from six months to 13 years old, their mother, grandmother and uncle.

The fire at the terraced house on Osborne Road, Birkby, was the largest multiple murder investigation West Yorkshire Police has faced in almost three decades.

The last time so many people were murdered at one location in the county was the M62 coach bombing in 1973 when 12 people died.

Three Huddersfield men were convicted at Leeds Crown Court for their part in the fire earlier this summer.

Shaied Iqbal, 26, of Springdale Road, Thornton Lodge, was found guilty of eight murders and jailed for life.

Shakiel Shazad, 23, of Gledholt Road, Gledholt, and Nazar Hussain, 24, of Dryclough Road, Crosland Moor, were both convicted of eight counts of manslaughter and imprisoned for 18 years.

Anyone who has any information about where Shahid Mohammed may be should contact Huddersfield police helpdesk on 01484 436659 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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