Police have urged those involved in disturbing street violence in Bradford to hand themselves in. 

A councillor has described the hammer attack outside a fish and chip takeaway as being “like a scene from out of the Wild West”.

Councillor Riaz Ahmed (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor) said images of the attack in Killinghall Road on Friday afternoon shocked him and that he was keen to see the culprits caught.

Video footage shot from inside Killinghall Fisheries appears to show a man throwing an object at a car across the road. The car’s occupants then chase him to the takeaway where one of the men is seen to attack the door and shop window with a hammer.

A BMW car is also attacked. Police say they have identified a number of suspects and are looking for them.

Detective Inspector Alan Weekes of Bradford CID added: “ We are grateful for the support of the local community and the information that they have provided.

"We are still keen to hear from anyone else who saw the incident on Friday. I urge those involved in the disorder to hand themselves in at their local police station. This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated and we are determined to bring those responsible to justice.”

Cllr Ahmed said: “I was very saddened to see the video of this vicious attack. It was like a scene from out of the Wild West and as a councillor I thought ‘what has happened to this area?’

“I was elected to make the area better so these are scenes I would not like to see. The police have informed me they are making inquiries so I hope the perpetrators are found soon and brought to court. There needs to be a strong deterrent made and magistrates need to impose stiffer sentences for crimes of this nature. My heart goes out to the business owner who has had two incidents occur now that has not been his doing. I hope those who did this are made to pay for the repairs.”

Killinghall Fisheries owner Mohammed Shahban said the attack had frightened customers and staff and that he had lost two half days’ trade because of repairs.

“It was very upsetting for everyone. It has cost me around £2,000 to repair the damage. We have no idea who these men, or the man they were chasing, are or what it was all about.”

Facebook comments have suggested a first confrontation between the men involved occurred outside a mosque after Friday prayers.

A spokesman for the Madni Jamia Masjad mosque, in Thornbury Road, posted a statement on Facebook saying: “As you may, or may not be aware, a group of mindless yobs carried out acts of senseless thuggery, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to a motor vehicle, as well the shop front of Killinghall Fisheries, after Jummah.

“First and foremost, these acts are condemned in their entirety not only by Madni Jamia Masjid, but our community as a whole. The thugs who were involved in the events of yesterday do not represent our community, our peaceful religion, nor humanity - the savagery of their actions was clear for all to see.

“There was a complete lack of respect for others’ property, a lack of respect for people trying to make a decent, honest living at Killinghall Fisheries, and more than that, a complete disregard for everyone around them - elders who had just finished their prayers and would have been frightened (I know my father was), youngsters, and the general public passing by on what is a very busy arterial road.

“Secondly, we as Muslims, complain that we are targeted unfairly and that Islamophobia is on the rise (true), but when such despicable occurrences take place, is it any surprise that we are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons?

“Finally, regardless of the circumstances responsible for those heinous acts, the perpetrators are not a part of our peace-loving and close-knit community. So, if anyone is aware of those responsible for the thuggery which blighted the area on Friday, please stand up and be counted.”

Councillor David Ward (Lib Dem, Bolton and Undercliffe) also said on social media: “Complete madness on Killinghall Road - severe punishment of crazy men out of control must follow.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting log 782 of Friday.

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