Two people were injured in a five-car smash after a stolen car was followed by police - less than a week after a teenager died in a Bradford police pursuit.

The crash happened outside the Abu Bakr mosque in Leeds Road at around 2.35pm yesterday and saw the road closed off for two hours while traffic was diverted.

A stolen silver BMW 323 had been spotted by a police car at the Barkerend side of Gladstone Street and had made off towards the A647 Leeds Road while police followed.

On joining the main road the car was in collision with a black BMW 318, ricocheting off three parked cars before eventually coming to a halt. It is believed that the driver of the stolen car then fled leaving his two passengers trapped in the back.

Barkat Ali saw the immediate aftermath of the crash which left debris scattered across the road.

"We were just praying inside the mosque when we heard this loud bang and came out to see what had happened," he said.

Two ambulances and one fire engine were on the scene within minutes to help the injured.

Firefighters had to cut through the black BMW to get to the trapped occupants, both men in their 40s. They were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary with minor head injuries and whiplash.

The police arrested two back seat passengers from the stolen car, both male, aged 20 and 22, who were in custody today.

They are still trying to trace a third man, presumed to be the driver, who was seen running from the scene.

Last Friday a 19-year-old, who has not yet been identified, died after his car smashed into a wall on Leeds Road following an early morning police pursuit.

A police spokesman said of yesterday's crash: "We did know that the car was stolen as we were following it. But until we trace the driver it's hard to say how fast they were going. We are pretty sure we know who the driver was. We do follow police procedures in this type of incident."

He added that last week's fatal crash had been voluntarily referred to the Police Complaints Authority and was now under investigation.

Any witnesses of yesterday's crash should call Bradford Central Police on 01274 376459.

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