Detectives will make a nationwide televised appeal for their "most wanted" riots suspect.

Officers want to trace 22-year-old Mohammed Shakeel, pictured, in connection with a violent attack that took place during the riots which devastated Bradford last summer.

Tonight, senior detectives will appear on the BBC's Crimewatch programme to appeal for information about the whereabouts of Shakeel, who is from Bradford but could now be in Sheffield or Birmingham.

They will also appeal for information about the whereabouts of Mohammed Nadeal Abbas, 19, and Zaheer Abbas Bashir, 21, who have gone on the run after being charged with riot.

Abbas has not been seen since he failed to attend a court hearing on December 11. Bashir failed to appear in court on January 7. Detective Inspector Tony Craven, senior investigating officer on Operation Wheel, which is Britain's biggest criminal investigation, said: "Mohammed Shakeel is the person most wanted by the Operation Wheel inquiry at this moment.

"The two men that failed to appear at court have already been charged but have gone missing - obviously we want to catch up with them as soon as possible. It may well be that they are in Pakistan, but we have reason to believe they are still in the country.

"The response of the community locally to previous appeals for information has been excellent and we are looking to the viewers of Crimewatch to help us as we extend our search nationwide for these three men.

"These are the first pictures of the rioters to appear on Crimewatch because the success of our campaign locally - particularly with the help of the Telegraph & Argus - has meant we have not needed to go nationwide until now."

Det Insp Craven said another dozen rioters still had to be identified. He said: "If you know where these three men are then please let us know. To the three men shown, my message is hand yourselves in."

More than 300 police officers were injured during the riots on July 7 and £10 million damage was caused to property.

So far, 226 people have been arrested in connection with the disorder and 161 people charged with various offences including 98 people with riot.

Anyone with information about the three men is urged to ring the incident room on (01274) 376915 or the Urdu-speaking language line on (01274) 376916.

E-mails can be sent to bradfordriots@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Photographs can be viewed on the force website - www.westyorkshire.police.uk.

l An appeal for information about the murder of auto-electrician Brian Hardwick, 50, of Wibsey, which was due to be screened on tonight's Crimewatch programme, has been postponed until next month.