Posted on 04/27/2009 1:06:15 AM PDT by Cindy
SNIPPET: "Police are hunting a kidnap gang who tied up and apparently tortured an Asian man before dumping him in a car in a busy city centre, surrounded by a belt of canisters which they claimed were a bomb."
SNIPPET: "The "bomb belt" was made up of half-a-dozen gas canisters, which would have killed the man if the gas had ignited, as well as exploding the car's petrol tank. Apart from the police helicopter, a no-fly zone was imposed on the area, causing diversions for light aircraft operating out of Birmingham airport.
Firefighters were on standby at the scene throughout the day, while council staff prepared meals and shelter and Saltley leisure centre.
Ayoub Khan, cabinet member for community safety on Birmingham city council, said an eyewitness had told him that the man in the car was of Asian origin and in his 30s.
Khan said: "He said he saw foam coming out of the man's mouth and said he was unconscious." The witness said that the canisters appeared to be tied round the man like a belt."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
ping
Note: Photos included.
“Birmingham kidnap victim found tied up and attached to canisters”
Apr 27 2009 By Mark Cowan
SNIPPET: “Army bomb disposal experts, firefighters and specialist police negotiators were on the scene in Saltley after a shocked trucker driver raised the alarm at 10.23am yesterday.
The car was found parked half on the kerb, near a scrap yard at the junction of Landor Street and Clarel Drive.”
SNIPPET: “Police said while nothing had to be diffused, they were closely examining the device and what was inside the canisters.
Chief Supt Coughlan said: “There was something physically that could represent some sort of device.
“We know it consists of gas canisters but we are not sure of the viability. The canisters appeared viable but until they have been properly assessed then we cannot know for sure how serious this threat was.”
He added: “This was clearly a kidnap situation and almost certainly there will be a criminal motivation to it. He has been the victim of a serious crime. We will pursue those who did this with vigour.””
Oooo! Rock me, Amadeus!
And when (likely, IF) you catch them...what? Chat incessantly about how naughty they've been then put them in the jail for a fortnight with no tea?
The problem they have is the same we in the US have - where do you go?
You fight back by being elected to offices that need to change the system. We need common sense politicians now, not the whackos we have.
Resembles a Mentalist episode of a few weeks ago.
“Ayoub Khan, cabinet member for community safety on Birmingham city council...”
Kind of says it all...
That’s what caught my attention as well. Britain will be instituting Shariah soon. Very sad.
No description of the kidnappers/bombers apart from being referred to as a “gang” of people.
Cowardice among journalists will doom us all.
I’m one of those immigrants. I was born and raised in Georgia. Yeah, that’s me, over here making a mess of things.
As far as the descriptions go. The victim was likely a Pakistani or Indian (or perhaps Afghan)- which is generally what people mean here when they say Asian. It could very well be that white people did this to him. We just don’t know from the article.
It could be the police have not released those details to the reporters yet. Not very clever to jump to conclusions.
As long as you’re assuming, might as well assume this was a setup as well. Maybe the guy did it to himself.
LOL. Funniest post I’ve seen today.
Where on the island do you live btw?
Thanks Prodigal Son for the update.
I appreciate it.
Thanks to Prodigal Son for pointing to this update:
UPDATE:
Note: Video included.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8021332.stm
Page last updated at 16:53 GMT, Monday, 27 April 2009 17:53 UK
“Attempt to rescue ‘car-bomb man’”
SNIPPET: “Mohammed Arif said a colleague spotted the car opposite his yard in Saltley, Birmingham, shortly after arriving for work on Sunday morning.
Mr Arif said he tried to prise the boot open to free the man, who was gagged and had gas cylinders strapped to his chest, before police officers arrived.
Police believe the man, who was freed after seven hours, had been kidnapped.”
SNIPPET: “He said the man, who police said is of Asian appearance and in his 30s, also had his hands and legs bound.
He was eventually safely released from the car after a seven-hour ordeal and taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.
No explosives were found, although gas canisters had been stored inside the car doors.
Several homes were evacuated and trains passing through Birmingham New Street Station were delayed.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police or call Crimestoppers.”
Small Update:
“Detectives interview kidnapped Asian”
Apr 28 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Post
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