Seventh arrest in Birmingham car murders probe

Detectives investigating the murders of three friends who were struck by a car as they protected their community from looters have arrested a seventh person.

Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, were hit by a car in the early hours of last Wednesday during riots in Birmingham. They were all pronounced dead in hospital.

West Midlands Police said a 30-year-old man from Birmingham was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after 10am today.

The latest arrest follows a preliminary hearing at Birmingham Crown Court earlier today, in which two men and a teenage boy were charged with the murders.

Joshua Donald, 26, Adam King, 23, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named, were remanded in custody to appear at the same court for a plea and case management hearing on December 9.

Donald, of Kelsall Croft, Ladywood, and the youth, from Edgbaston, appeared by video-link.

King, of no fixed address, was in the dock.

A police spokeswoman said: "A seventh man has today been arrested in connection with the deaths of three men in Winson Green last week.

"A 30-year-old man was detained, on suspicion of murder, shortly after 10am today.

"The man is the seventh person to be arrested in connection with an incident on Dudley Road on Wednesday 10 August.

"Shazad Ali, Abdul Musavir and Haroon Jahan all died after being hit by a car on Dudley Road in the early hours of Wednesday.

"Three men, aged 17, 23 and 26, have been charged with the offence of murder and have appeared before Birmingham Crown Court.

"Three people, all male, have also been bailed pending further inquiries - a 16-year-old, a 27-year-old and a 32-year-old."

PA