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Taxi driver dies in city shooting | Taxi driver dies in city shooting |
(about 1 hour 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. |
Younis Khan, a father-of-five, 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 the area was declared a "no go" zone for taxi drivers until two years ago. Police said there was no clear motive for the attack. | |
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. |
Det Supt Martyn Bates, from South Yorkshire Police, said Mr Khan was shot with a small-calibre firearm, possibly a handgun, but he could not say how many times. | |
He said: "We believe the shots were fired from somewhere close to the junction of Scott Road and College Road. | |
He was well known, a nice gentleman, a taxi driver, a family man with children Faraz Sharif, family friend | |
"A number of local residents and passers-by tended to Mr Khan prior to him being taken to hospital." | |
Mr Bates said Mr Khan was a "hard-working family man" who had not been a recent victim of crime. | |
"Mr Khan was a law-abiding person. At this stage there appears to be no reason or motive why he should have been a victim of such a callous crime." | |
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 Mr Khan 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. | |
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 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." |
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 was well known, a nice gentleman, a taxi driver, a family man with children," he said. | |