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Action call after youth's murder | Action call after youth's murder |
(about 6 hours later) | |
An MP has called for tougher action against violent youths after a teenager was killed in a park in West Yorkshire. | An MP has called for tougher action against violent youths after a teenager was killed in a park in West Yorkshire. |
Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik said harsher sentencing was needed as well as help from parents and communities to show that "violence was not acceptable". | Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik said harsher sentencing was needed as well as help from parents and communities to show that "violence was not acceptable". |
He spoke out after Amar Aslam, 17, died in what police called a "sustained" attack in Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury on Sunday evening. | He spoke out after Amar Aslam, 17, died in what police called a "sustained" attack in Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury on Sunday evening. |
A 20-year-old man and four youths aged from 12 to 15 have been arrested. | |
Police are looking into suggestions the death was linked to a gang fight. | Police are looking into suggestions the death was linked to a gang fight. |
Mr Malik said the attack was unlikely to have been race-related as the three arrested youths were all Asian, as was the victim. Parents need to be more alert and take a far greater responsibility for their children Shahid Malik | Mr Malik said the attack was unlikely to have been race-related as the three arrested youths were all Asian, as was the victim. Parents need to be more alert and take a far greater responsibility for their children Shahid Malik |
The MP said: "We often band together these terrible attacks as being racially motivated when the reality is that ultimately, they are just about young people. | The MP said: "We often band together these terrible attacks as being racially motivated when the reality is that ultimately, they are just about young people. |
"More often than not it is not about race, it is about young people who have got involved in a culture where they feel violence is acceptable, either as as an offence or in defence. | "More often than not it is not about race, it is about young people who have got involved in a culture where they feel violence is acceptable, either as as an offence or in defence. |
"We have to get the message across that violence is not acceptable either way. | "We have to get the message across that violence is not acceptable either way. |
"At the moment I do not think the law is being applied as it might; I do not think harsh enough sentences are being imposed." | "At the moment I do not think the law is being applied as it might; I do not think harsh enough sentences are being imposed." |
'Many tears' | 'Many tears' |
But he said there was also a "real role for parents and for the wider community to play". | But he said there was also a "real role for parents and for the wider community to play". |
"Parents need to be more alert and take a far greater responsibility for their children - their whereabouts, and what they carry with them when they go out.Part of the park remains cordoned off for police work | "Parents need to be more alert and take a far greater responsibility for their children - their whereabouts, and what they carry with them when they go out.Part of the park remains cordoned off for police work |
"And the community has a responsibility to work more closely with the police." | "And the community has a responsibility to work more closely with the police." |
Local councillor Karam Hussain went to Amar's family home to offer his condolences. | Local councillor Karam Hussain went to Amar's family home to offer his condolences. |
He said: "There were many relatives in the house and there were many tears, from them and from me. | He said: "There were many relatives in the house and there were many tears, from them and from me. |
"I know his father very well. The whole family was devastated, just as anyone would be as a young man's life was lost." | "I know his father very well. The whole family was devastated, just as anyone would be as a young man's life was lost." |
Fellow Dewsbury West ward councillor Mumtaz Hussain said Amar came from a family who were not the "kind of people" to get into trouble. | Fellow Dewsbury West ward councillor Mumtaz Hussain said Amar came from a family who were not the "kind of people" to get into trouble. |
Witnesses wanted | Witnesses wanted |
Amar's father and brother were waiting for a flight home from Pakistan after hearing the news last night, he added. | Amar's father and brother were waiting for a flight home from Pakistan after hearing the news last night, he added. |
West Yorkshire Police said they wanted to speak to anyone who was in the park between 1400 and 2000 BST on Sunday, to establish a "clearer picture". | West Yorkshire Police said they wanted to speak to anyone who was in the park between 1400 and 2000 BST on Sunday, to establish a "clearer picture". |
Amar had been dressed in white tracksuit bottoms and a white Bench top. | Amar had been dressed in white tracksuit bottoms and a white Bench top. |
The area where his body was found had recently been transformed into a wildlife garden. | The area where his body was found had recently been transformed into a wildlife garden. |
Police have now reopened part of Crow Nest Park, while officers continue to investigate areas close to where the boy's body was found. | Police have now reopened part of Crow Nest Park, while officers continue to investigate areas close to where the boy's body was found. |
The park, which opened to the public in 1893, contains an ornamental lake, museum, terraced walks, a woodland garden, and promenades. | The park, which opened to the public in 1893, contains an ornamental lake, museum, terraced walks, a woodland garden, and promenades. |