The auntie of a young boy said to have killed himself amid claims of school bullying has shared the family's devastation. 

Police are investigating the death of 11-year-old Asad Khan, which happened at his home in Whetley Hill yesterday (Wednesday).

His auntie, Rehana Bibi, 34, of Manningham, said she was struggling to take the tragedy in.

"It's devastating. No words can say how shocking this news is," she said.

"He was a happy, jolly boy. He was such a lovely boy and was very shy."

"He was was just a very good innocent child, he was so sweet and I just cannot believe he has gone like this."

Miss Bibi said she had been told by some young boys in the family that the 11-year-old was being bullied.

"How can someone do this to a child?," she asked.

"He was not saying what was up to his parents. Nothing seemed wrong with the boy."

"The parents are so, so good themselves that it's hard for them to understand what bullying is at school.

"Because they are not like that themselves they would not ever think that.

"Because obviously the parents thought it's a new school, new teachers, its only been a week and a half and he needs to adjust.

"But I've heard there were 16/17-year-old boys in the school and they are no good, and they used to be around him and bully him.

"The boy was scared. Because he was scared he did not even know what he was doing, he was too innocent to know: what I am doing is death.

"Maybe he just wanted a bit of attention, or he was fed up that day.

"I am so devastated by this."

Miss Bibi said she had heard about the these bullying rumours from boys in the family, who have spoken to other boys at Asad's school.

"These aren't boys who go to the school, but they know boys who do.

"He didn't even really say openly I am getting bullied, but one of the boys said he had seen seen him in school once, and that Asad was standing in the corner with tears in his eyes.

"The boy said he had wiped Asad's tears and asked what was wrong, and Asad had replied: 'Them boys'.

"This bullying needs to stop, it is taking young boys' lives.

"I strongly believe this is bullying from school.

"Asad didn't even know the word bully, all he knew was he was getting bullied and he was not happy.

"Something has happened on the day where he is fed up, maybe he is just fed up of the two weeks going to that school, but I can't see how a child can go and hang himself.

"The boy was innocent to his death."

Rehana said Asad's mum is Farheen Jan and his father is Asif Khan and he had three siblings, two sisters and a brother.

One sister is about four or five months old, the other four and the brother is seven.

Rehana said she had seen Asad's mum in the hospital on Wednesday night and told her to keep strong.

Shabnam Rani, 34, Rehana's best friend, added: "I'm really shocked and saddened by this and I'm so scared, I've got kids and I don't want this to happen to any other child.

"Why would you do something like that?It's really worrying me and I'm shocked.

"You can't even imagine what his parents are going through. They are heartbroken."

Police attended the boy's house in Tile Street after unconfirmed reports he had hung himself.

Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah said she had met with the parents of Asad yesterday evening.

She wrote on her Facebook page: "This evening, 11-year-old Asad took his own life. Asad had just started his new school recently and bullying is something that has been mentioned."

Ms Shah said she had also met with the parents of 17-year-old Adnan Shafique, who was killed in a car crash on Shipley Airedale Road on Tuesday.

She wrote: "The pain etched in the faces of both sets of parents this evening is something no-one should have to experience.

"Whilst my prayers and thoughts remain with the families, could I ask you all to be kind enough and talk to at least one friend/young person about these tragedies to raise awareness about dangerous driving and bullying."

Asad was a pupil at Beckfoot Upper Heaton School, formerly Belle Vue Boys School, which this morning released a statement about the death.

"It is with great sadness that we learnt last night of the death of Asad Khan one of the school’s newest students," it said.

"The school is united in its grief at this sad time. The school community is working together as students, parents and staff come to terms with these events. All our thoughts are with Asad’s family at this terribly difficult time."

A man who said he was Asad's cousin, but did not wish to be named, also said Asad had been bullied.

"He was always full of energy he loved his science, he used to make little lights and play around with circuits," he said.

"As a person he was just like any other 11-year-old kid - full of life and was ready for school."

Head teacher Simon Wade said Asad had only been a pupil at the school for three weeks.

In a further statement Mr Wade added: "The school is aware of speculation about the circumstances surrounding Asad's death. In Asad's first three weeks at school he made a great impression on all who met him.

"He was doing well in lessons, scoring high marks for his attitude to learning and his positive approach to school life and the school was looking forward to a bright future for him."

Councillor Mohammed Amran (Lab, Heaton), said he was hoping to see the family to offer his support and had questions he wished to ask the school and police.

Coun Amran said: "My heart goes out to the family. I have an 11-year-old son and I cannot imagine what they must be going through.

"I understand the school is having assemblies for the students this morning.

"I have a lot of questions I want to ask the headteacher.

"I have had a lot of reports of bullying in the Bradford district. It has become a big issue.

"It is shocking. It must have been serious bullying for him to have taken his life.

"I am a parent and I am struggling to take it in. For a child to have taken that step, the bullying must have been really bad.

"It is so sad to lose any life, but in particular a young child, an 11-year-old good-looking child who has just started at upper school and had a future."

The home police were called to in Tile Street last night

Last night, a crime scene investigation vehicle was parked outside a three-storey house next to the Jamia Masjid mosque. Police officers were standing guard outside the property.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said today: "Police were called by ambulance staff to an address in Tile Street, Bradford, at 4.19pm yesterday after an 11-year-old boy was found in an unresponsive state.

"The boy was taken to hospital, but sadly died a short time later.

"Inquiries are continuing, but his death is not believed to be suspicious at this time."

A police spokesman declined to say how the boy had died, but said a post-mortem examination was expected to take place later today.

He said the boy was found in the house by a family member but could not confirm reports that it was his mother. They then alerted paramedics.

Videos have surfaced on social media which it is claimed show Asad being bullied.

Police said they were aware of the claims and were making further enquiries into the videos.

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