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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Mohammed Saleem killed leaving prayers in Small Heath | Mohammed Saleem killed leaving prayers in Small Heath |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A grandfather of 22 has been stabbed to death while on his way home from evening prayers in Birmingham. | A grandfather of 22 has been stabbed to death while on his way home from evening prayers in Birmingham. |
| Mohammed Saleem, 75, was found after being stabbed four times in Green Lane, Small Heath, on Monday night. He died later in hospital. | Mohammed Saleem, 75, was found after being stabbed four times in Green Lane, Small Heath, on Monday night. He died later in hospital. |
| Police said there was no evidence he had been the victim of a robbery. | Police said there was no evidence he had been the victim of a robbery. |
| Mr Saleem's daughter, Shazia Khan, said it was thought her father, who walked with a stick, may have tried to fight off his attacker. | Mr Saleem's daughter, Shazia Khan, said it was thought her father, who walked with a stick, may have tried to fight off his attacker. |
| Ms Khan said her father had been on his way home from evening prayers at his mosque in Green Lane when he was attacked at about 22:30 BST. | Ms Khan said her father had been on his way home from evening prayers at his mosque in Green Lane when he was attacked at about 22:30 BST. |
| "He was very well respected in the community," she said. | "He was very well respected in the community," she said. |
| "Everyone old and young knew him. | "Everyone old and young knew him. |
| "Neighbours have told us they heard screams and called for an ambulance. It's thought he may have tried to fight off his attacker." | "Neighbours have told us they heard screams and called for an ambulance. It's thought he may have tried to fight off his attacker." |
| She said her father was "such a lovely man" and the family was "so shocked" he had died in "such a brutal way". | She said her father was "such a lovely man" and the family was "so shocked" he had died in "such a brutal way". |
| 'Very vulnerable' | 'Very vulnerable' |
| Ms Khan said her father used to walk to the mosque five times each day. | Ms Khan said her father used to walk to the mosque five times each day. |
| He lived in a terraced house off Little Green Lane with his wife. | He lived in a terraced house off Little Green Lane with his wife. |
| Post-mortem tests are being carried out. | Post-mortem tests are being carried out. |
| The area where the attack happened, which also includes Wyndcliffe Primary School, was cordoned-off on Tuesday. | The area where the attack happened, which also includes Wyndcliffe Primary School, was cordoned-off on Tuesday. |
| Mr Saleem was found injured near the school, which was shut on Tuesday. | |
| Police urged drivers and pedestrians to avoid Little Green Lane and surrounding roads in Small Heath. | Police urged drivers and pedestrians to avoid Little Green Lane and surrounding roads in Small Heath. |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service said Mr Saleem had been taken to Heartlands Hospital but was confirmed dead shortly after arriving there. | West Midlands Ambulance Service said Mr Saleem had been taken to Heartlands Hospital but was confirmed dead shortly after arriving there. |
| West Midlands Police said detectives were examining CCTV footage and speaking to local residents, some of whom had tried to help the 75-year-old. | West Midlands Police said detectives were examining CCTV footage and speaking to local residents, some of whom had tried to help the 75-year-old. |
| Det Supt Mark Payne said they were still trying to work out the motive behind the "vicious attack". | Det Supt Mark Payne said they were still trying to work out the motive behind the "vicious attack". |
| He said there was no evidence Mr Saleem, who walked with a stick, had been a victim of a robbery. | He said there was no evidence Mr Saleem, who walked with a stick, had been a victim of a robbery. |
| "He was a 75-year-old man, he was very vulnerable and he couldn't defend himself. It's important for people in the community to come forward and tell us what they know." | "He was a 75-year-old man, he was very vulnerable and he couldn't defend himself. It's important for people in the community to come forward and tell us what they know." |
| 'Bubbly character' | |
| Det Supt Payne said there was also "no evidence" that Mr Saleem had been a victim of a racist attack but said officers were examining every line of inquiry. | Det Supt Payne said there was also "no evidence" that Mr Saleem had been a victim of a racist attack but said officers were examining every line of inquiry. |
| Tassadaq Hussein, head of community relations and development at the mosque on Green Lane, described Mr Saleem as "a good man with a strong sense of humour". | |
| Mr Hussein said: "We are quite shocked and saddened because he was a very bubbly character. | |
| "I think people are quite anxious and quite surprised and I think they'll be slightly wary leaving the mosque in the evenings." |