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Taxi driver dies in city shooting | Taxi driver dies in city shooting |
(20 minutes later) | |
A 53-year-old taxi driver has been shot dead in his cab in Sheffield. | A 53-year-old taxi driver has been shot dead in his cab in Sheffield. |
The man, named by colleagues as father-of-five Younis Khan, was shot as he drove along Scott Road, Pitsmoor, in the early hours of Wednesday. | The man, named by colleagues as father-of-five Younis Khan, was shot as he drove along Scott Road, Pitsmoor, in the early hours of Wednesday. |
The Hackney cab then crashed into the gates of Burngreave Cemetery. Mr Khan was taken to Northern General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. | The Hackney cab then crashed into the gates of Burngreave Cemetery. Mr Khan was taken to Northern General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. |
Colleagues said taxi drivers had only returned to the area two years ago after declaring it a "no go" zone. | Colleagues said taxi drivers had only returned to the area two years ago after declaring it a "no go" zone. |
Mr Khan, described as a "well known family man", was pronounced dead on arrival at Northern General Hospital. | |
The area was cordoned off on Wednesday while forensic teams scoured the scene. | The area was cordoned off on Wednesday while forensic teams scoured the scene. |
'Drivers scared' | 'Drivers scared' |
Hafeas Rehman, secretary of the Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, said drivers in the city had been shocked to hear of Mr Khan's death. | Hafeas Rehman, secretary of the Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, said drivers in the city had been shocked to hear of Mr Khan's death. |
He said the 53-year-old had been a taxi driver for about 30 years. | He said the 53-year-old had been a taxi driver for about 30 years. |
"He was well known, a very nice man who worked hard and had a big family", he said. | "He was well known, a very nice man who worked hard and had a big family", he said. |
Mr Rehman said the area where the shooting happened was notorious for drug use and had until two years ago been a 'no go' area for taxi drivers. | Mr Rehman said the area where the shooting happened was notorious for drug use and had until two years ago been a 'no go' area for taxi drivers. |
He said: "Taxi drivers are very scared now, we've had a couple of robberies recently at gunpoint. | He said: "Taxi drivers are very scared now, we've had a couple of robberies recently at gunpoint. |
"It is an area where drivers at one point didn't used to go into. It has been a high crime area for a long time but recently has improved a lot. | "It is an area where drivers at one point didn't used to go into. It has been a high crime area for a long time but recently has improved a lot. |
"They always think twice before picking up there but these last couple of years the confidence in the area has increased." | "They always think twice before picking up there but these last couple of years the confidence in the area has increased." |
'Nice gentleman' | 'Nice gentleman' |
The shooting comes just three months after Sheffield City Council installed CCTV cameras in 33 taxis in the city after a spate of attacks on drivers. | The shooting comes just three months after Sheffield City Council installed CCTV cameras in 33 taxis in the city after a spate of attacks on drivers. |
The authority said last month that the £7,000 pilot scheme had led to a dramatic reduction in violent incidents against drivers. | The authority said last month that the £7,000 pilot scheme had led to a dramatic reduction in violent incidents against drivers. |
Faraz Sharif, a friend of the taxi driver's family, told BBC Radio Sheffield that Mr Khan was well known in the community. | Faraz Sharif, a friend of the taxi driver's family, told BBC Radio Sheffield that Mr Khan was well known in the community. |
He said the victim had two sons, three daughters and three grandchildren. | He said the victim had two sons, three daughters and three grandchildren. |
He said: "He was well known, a nice gentleman, a taxi driver, a family man with children. | He said: "He was well known, a nice gentleman, a taxi driver, a family man with children. |
"He used to have a shop and sold it to concentrate on his taxi driving. He was just a nice gentleman." | "He used to have a shop and sold it to concentrate on his taxi driving. He was just a nice gentleman." |