A COUNCILLOR says the community is still in shock and offering its support following the murder of a man in a Bradford park over a game of football, as police still hunt for his killers.

Beyake Keita-Ann, 21, suffered head injuries when he and his friends were viciously attacked by a gang of men brandishing machetes, sticks and baseball bats in Attock Park, Laisterdyke.

The violence was sparked by the friends’ football hitting a parked car on a near-by road.

When the group went to retrieve the football, an altercation took place with two Asian men.

An armed gang then arrived on the scene and a disturbance followed, which included Mr Keita-Ann, a Spanish Muslim, of a Gambian descent, being injured. Mr Keita-Ann died in hospital earlier this month, three weeks after the park attack at around 8pm on Tuesday, August 23.

Six men have arrested and bailed pending further enquiries and detectives say they are still seeking the public’s help to find the killer.

Councillor Riaz Ahmed (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor), has spoken of his and the near-by community’s shock at the murder, appealing for any potential witnesses to come forward.

He said: “The community is still in shock really.

“I feel very, very disappointed this has happened.

“The whole community is supporting the family.

“I’m very dismayed at the fact that this happened in broad daylight in front of other people. It’s shocking.

“Nobody has come forward with any information yet.

“I would urge anyone to come forward with any information for the police.

“Unless people work with the police we are not going to solve this problem. Police can’t do it on their own. They need the help of the community.

“This is something that needs to be stamped out in our community, this type of needless violence.”

Mr Keita-Ann came to England in May this year with his father and sister, leaving his mother and younger sister in Spain, to work. He lived in Leeds but played football with friends from Bradford.

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In a family statement he was described as a “kind and gentle person who liked to play football when he was not at work.”

Detective Ian Scott, of the Homicide and Major Enquiries Team, said: “Our enquiries are ongoing and we are continuing to appeal to the public for information.

“We know there were other people in the park when the victims were playing football and we need them to come forward, as they are likely to have information which will assist this investigation.

“A young man has died as a result of this terrible attack and it is vital that anyone who saw anything comes forward, so we can identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“We still believe the answers will be found in the local community.”

Anyone with any further information should contact Bradford CID, via 101, quoting reference 13160363829, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.