Shooting was 'wicked' says Blair

Tasawar Hussain was shot in the chest

Prime Minister Tony Blair has described the murder of a man who was shot dead as he chased two suspected robbers as "tragic and wicked".

Mr Blair, speaking in the House of Commons, offered his "deep condolences" to the family of Tasawar Hussain.

Mr Hussain, 36, whose widow is expecting their second child, drove after two men who had stolen cash from a travel agents in Bradford just after 1700 GMT on Monday.

When Mr Hussain went to approach the robbers' getaway car in Jowett Street, he was shot in the chest and died later in Bradford Royal Infirmary.

'Loved one'

Detective Superintendent Alan Doherty, of West Yorkshire Police, said officers wanted to talk to anyone who saw the Nissan Sunny getaway car.

"We are still anxious to hear from people who passed Lumb Lane, Jowett Street or Summerville Road on Monday evening who may have seen something.

Mr Hussain's niece appealed for help

"I would urge them to ring the police with information, no matter how trivial they feel it is."

Mr Doherty added: "A man who acted bravely has lost his life, which is tremendously shocking.

Mr Hussain's niece, Sameena Akhtar said: "We're devastated. He's a very courageous man and was very brave to do what he did.

"We've lost a loved one. It could have happened to anybody.

"It could have been somebody else's son or brother."

Gun crime

Mehrban Hussain, a Conservative councillor for the University ward, which covers the area where the incident took place, said gun crime was a major problem in Bradford.

"We have had a few shootings in different areas of the city over the past year.

"A lot of criminals are now carrying guns. The police have got to be stronger in clamping down on these people."

"Unfortunately people are scared of coming forward in case the criminals find out and they get in trouble."

He said the majority of incidents involving guns were drug-related.