FAMILY RUN BUSINESS ESTABLISHED OVER 45 YEARS
• Curtains • Blinds • Poles T: 01924 471578 25 Commercial Street, Batley
ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley
Friday October 25, 2019
No. 916
50p
Friendly faces sprucing up our stations
p4&7
‘LUCKY TO BE ALIVE’
Cars destroyed in petrol bomb attack on councillor’s home By Tony Earnshaw and David Bentley HOODED arsonists destroyed two cars outside the home of a prominent Kirklees councillor in a targeted petrol bomb attack. Coun Masood Ahmed (Lab, Dewsbury South) says he and his family are “lucky to be alive” following the incident at 1.30am on Wednesday. Thugs torched two vehicles belonging to his son and daughter in an attack that could be linked to his stance on criminality in the ward. A shaken but defiant Coun
Ahmed praised police and emergency services for their prompt response and for helping secure his home on Pentland Road, Savile Town. Police are reviewing neighbours’ CCTV and he has vowed: “They are not going to drive us out.” Coun Ahmed, 50, fled the house with his wife, four children and two grandchildren after four men petrol-bombed a black Audi A1 and a blue Subaru Impreza, which was parked on the drive. “I had got up and gone downstairs for a drink of water when I heard a noise,” said Coun Ahmed. “The next moment I heard a bang and both cars were on fire. “My kids were in their beds over-
looking the cars. My grandkids were in the next room. Everybody is shaken up and scared.” The family managed to escape through the front door of the property and initially tried to extinguish the flames with water before firefighters arrived. Nearby CCTV systems recorded four hooded men arriving in a darkcoloured Peugeot 207. They are carrying petrol bombs which are thrown at two cars, one on the street and another on the driveway. Coun Ahmed said he did not know why his home had been targeted but he has had messages of support from the Mayor of Kirklees, the chief executive and much of the local community.
TERRIFYING: Two cars were torched at 1.30am in the targeted attack. A wrecked Audi A1 was removed on Wednesday afternoon (right).
YappApp
Since the attack his two grandchildren, aged four and eight, have been moved to a relative’s house, but the rest of the family is staying put. The substance misuse worker has been a councillor in the Dewsbury South ward for 13 years and earlier this year stood down as cabinet member for learning and aspiration to devote more time to his family, after a string of high-profile roles in the Kirklees leadership. Coun Ahmed told The Press that about a month ago he had an altercation with a group of local criminals which may be linked to this
Continued on page 2 UNDAUNTED: Coun Masood Ahmed
Kirklees: Security tightened around key buildings and at public events
p2