Police praise bravery of man shot dead after chasing robbers

Police in Bradford hunting the killer of a man shot dead while chasing robbers praised the dead man's bravery but urged members of the public yesterday not to put their lives at risk by tackling dangerous criminals.

Detective Superintendent Allan Doherty, who is leading the investigation into the murder of Tasawar Hussain, 36, paid tribute to the victim's "sense of duty", but urged the public to leave such confrontations to the police. "I urge the public, no one's life is worth losing," he said. "Do not put your lives at risk."

Mr Hussain, 36, was shot while pursuing robbers who had seized up to £25,000 in an armed raid on a travel agent in the Lumb Lane area of the city. Mr Hussain and a friend gave chase in their BMW car when the robbers made their getaway in a Nissan Sunny. Mr Hussain died from a single gunshot wound to the chest after he got out of the car to try to read the robbers' registration plate when they stopped about a mile from the scene of the raid at about 5.15pm on Monday.

Mr Hussain's wife, who is expecting their second child, was being comforted last night, with their five-year-old daughter and the victim's closest friend, Azram Hussain, who was driving the BMW.

Azram Hussain, who worked as a car valet with the victim, said they had been taking a short cut home when they saw a robber running away from the travel agency with a cashbox stolen from a security guard. Customers from the travel agency had given chase on foot, but the man jumped into the Nissan and was driven off by an accomplice.

Mehrban Hussain, a Tory councillor for the University ward, which covers the area where the incident took place, said gun crime had become a serious problem. "We have had a few shootings in different areas of the city over the past year," he said. "A lot of criminals are carrying guns. The police have got to be stronger in clamping down on these people. Unfortunately, people are scared of coming forward in case the criminals find out and they get in trouble."

He said the majority of incidents involving guns were drug-related.