Gang thought they were untouchable

Its members - who regarded themselves as "untouchable" - even hung a picture of the Chicago gangster at their headquarters at a flat in Keighley.

And a jury heard how the thugs executed their carefully-constructed plan to kill Qadir Ahmed around the anniversary of Capone's most bloody crime, the Valentine's Day Massacre.

Today the senior detective who led the investigation against them said: "They thought they were above the law. They felt that no matter what they did, nobody would testify against them."

But Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick added: "They acted like gangsters but in reality they were just thugs and criminals."

The brutal, drug-related killing of Mr Ahmed - himself a convicted dealer - was the fourth murder of young Asian men from Keighley over a five-month period.

Fear gripped the town as a bloody gang war between rival factions spiralled out of control.

Following a six-week trial, a jury yesterday found seven members of the gang guilty of conspiring to murder Mr Ahmed, 24 of Gordon Street, Keighley.

They heard how he was ambushed as he drove from Keighley Leisure Centre by two car loads of heavily-armed and masked thugs. After his Rover 25 car was rammed off the road he was chased on to the roundabout by Victoria Park where he was subjected to a "rapid and ferocious" attack with hammers, axes and knives.

Yesterday the mastermind behind the plot - Zulfiqar Asif, 23, of Bradford Road, Keighley - was jailed for 20 years.

Judge Mr Justice Henriques told him: "You oversaw every executive act of this conspiracy."

This involved organising the buying of weapons, gloves, balaclava masks and even the cars needed to carry out the ambush.

"I have no doubt that Qadir Ahmed was killed against a background of drug dealing," said Mr Justice Henriques, adding that Asif has been "controlling events in a hands-on manner."

And he said: "The public and those living in Keighley must know that if murders are planned and executed in public places that long sentences will be passed."

Amjad Ali Azam, 21, of Surrey Street, Keighley, was jailed for 15 years. Mr Justice Henriques said he had been involved in buying weapons and added: "There is no doubt that you knew what was afoot. You agreed Qadir Ahmed should be killed and you intended it."

Mohammed Iqbal, 24, of Salt Street, Manningham, Bradford, who played a "central part" in the plot, also received a 15 year sentence.

Parveez Ahsraf, 26, of Victoria Park View, Keighley, was jailed for six years. The court heard how he was of "very low general intelligence" and "abnormally compliant".

Mohammed Rafiq, 21, of Chatsworth Street, Keighley - whose brother Yasser Nazir Khan was murdered in a similar gang-related 'execution' - was jailed for six years.

Atif Younis, 22, of Buxton Street, Keighley, received a seven year sentence. Mr Justice Henriques said he would have been jailed for 15 years but this was reduced because of his previous good character and the fact he suffered from a heart defect, making it "unlikely he would reach his 50th birthday."

His brother, Aqaf Younis, 19, of Bradford Road, Keighley, had earlier pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was conditionally discharged for two years.

The court heard how he had supported a "ludicrous lie" from Mohammed Rafiq that he burned his face after setting light to rubbish - rather than one of the cars used in the attack.

Zahid Bashir, 27, of Emley Street, Keighley was due to be sentenced today.

After the case, Mr Henriques paid tribute to the police officers who caught the gang, adding: "The work which has been done has been of the very highest standard in extremely difficult circumstances."

Det Supt Sedgwick said: "This was a very difficult inquiry because a lot of the people we were dealing with were naturally very unfriendly towards the police."

He highlighted that in the 18 months after the killing, officers took more than 800 statements and recovered more than 1,200 exhibits while 160 vehicles were traced and many recovered.

"This brutal crime threw the media spotlight on Keighley for all the wrong reasons," said Det Supt Sedgwick.

"I would like to reassure the people of Keighley that it is a safe and pleasant place to live. This was a targeted attack and today's verdict shows that violence will not be tolerated on our streets."

Welcoming the sentences, Mr Ahmed's brother Nazir Ahmed, 37, said: I am happy that these terrible crimes have been dealt with and I thank the police officers and the jury for doing their jobs.

"Keighley has many problems with attacks of Asians against Asians and I hope that we can return to normal living and get on with each other."