This Article is From Aug 11, 2011

3 Pakistani men killed in riot-hit Birmingham

3 Pakistani men killed in riot-hit Birmingham
London: Grieving relatives and friends of two men killed in the early hours of Wednesday in what some claimed was "a racist attack" gathered at a Mosque in Birmingham to pay their respects.

Two brothers and a friend were killed when a car was driven at them when they were in a petrol station.

Their relative Nasser Kahn, who gave the names of the brothers as Shazad Ali, 29, and Abdul Musavir, 30, spoke out on Wednesday, calling it a racist attack.

"I found out about half past one, early in the morning, they had both been knocked over but I didn't know how severe it was until I got to the hospital and they were pronounced dead shortly after."

Haroon Jahan, 21, was named as the third fatality by mourners.

Chris Sims, chief constable of West Midlands Police, said a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder.  Police have not released any information on a possible motive for the attack.

Faisal Arafat, a friend of the two brothers alleged that the incident had racial undertones, and that it was "white petty shops and the Asian superstores that were being attacked", while other businesses were left untouched.

Councillor Chaman Lal of the Birmingham City Council appealed for calm and for people to "live peacefully with each other".

Prime Minister David Cameron insisted that police were working around the clock to get to the bottom of what happened in the incident and "bring the perpetrator to justice".

Forensic officers were seen at the cordoned off street examining the scene and collecting the evidence.

Officers have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
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