Three young Asians killed in British riots

Aug 10, 2011, 14:11 GMT

London - The Asian community in Birmingham was Wednesday mourning the loss of three young men killed by a hit-and-run driver connected to the violent rioting in the British city.

Police said they arrested a man following the incident late Tuesday. A murder inquiry had been launched based on information that the 'car was deliberately driven,' police chief Chris Sims said.

'At some point, and in circumstances that as yet I can't fully explain, a vehicle has been driven into that group of males, which tragically has led to three of those men losing their lives,' he said.

Urging everyone in the West Midlands to stay calm, he added: 'Like everyone else in Birmingham, my concern now will be that a single incident doesn't lead to a much wider and more general level of distrust, and even worse, violence, between different communities.'

Local people said the men, two of whom were brothers, had come out onto the street to 'protect the community' from roaming rioters.

Tariq Jahan, who lost his 21-year-old son Haroon, said he was a 'a good, gifted kid' who had ultimately died for 'the whole community.' The other two victims were 20 and 31 years old respectively.

As angry and grieving relatives and friends gathered, Jahan appealed that there should be no revenge for his son's death.

'Tensions are already high in the area. It's already bad enough what we are seeing in the streets now without other people taking the law into their own hands,' he said.