Bus campaign targets taxi driver killer

DETECTIVES investigating the horrific murder of a Birmingham taxi driver have launched an advertising campaign across the city’s bus network in the hope of catching his killer.

West Mercia Police have yet to make the vital breakthrough in the murder of Mohammed Arshad who was repeatedly stabbed in the head in Wast Hills Lane, Kings Norton on 22 July.

A picture of a man, taken from a CCTV camera, was released by police in August. They believe the man made a phone call to Mr Arshad’s taxi firm requesting a taxi shortly before the father-of-four was found by a passer-by in a pool of blood.

Detectives have now taken the unusual step of using the image in a poster campaign with National Express West Midland buses in a bid to circulate the man’s image more widely.

The man’s image was captured on CCTV cameras in Monyhull Hall Road in Kings Norton on the evening that Mr Arshad was attacked and he is believed to be the taxi driver’s last known fare.

Detective Superintendent Sheila Thornes, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is the first time that West Mercia Police have used bus advertising as part of a murder investigation. It’s vital that we identify the man featured in the CCTV image and we’re hopeful that someone will recognise him and call the murder incident room at Redditch on 0300 333 3000.

“There is a reward of £10,000 on offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mr Arshad’s killer and we hope that this will prompt someone to call in.”

The poster campaign will be featured on the back of 50 National Express West Midlands buses operating out of the depots in Acocks Green and Yardley Wood in Birmingham, and will run for the next four weeks.

Det Supt Thornes added: “We’ve had an excellent response to the appeals we’ve made in connection with the investigation so far and we’d like to thank the many witnesses who have already contacted us with information. However we still need the public to tell us who the man featured in the CCTV is and where he’s from, to help us move forward with our inquiry.”

Anyone with information relating to the murder of Mohammed Arshad is asked to call West Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.