Four men being followed by unmarked police car in Bradford killed in crash
The Bradford crash, involving a BMW which was being followed by an unmarked police car, has been referred to the police watchdog.
Friday 3 August 2018 18:24, UK
The first victim of a crash involving a BMW which hit a tree as it was being followed by an unmarked police car has been named.
Murtza Choudhury was one of four men killed in Bradford in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Sky sources confirmed Mr Choudhury, understood to have recently finished college, is one of the dead.
A coffee shop manager who said he knew the victims described them as "polite young men".
"It's an absolute tragedy. Your heart goes out to the families and their parents, " said Mr Mohammed Rashid.
It is understood the BMW they were in was being followed by an unmarked police car when it crashed in Toller Lane at about 5.30am.
The crash has been referred to the police watchdog, which said in a statement: "The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation after a fatal crash in Bradford.
"At about 5.30am a BMW crashed on Toller Lane, Bradford. Tragically four people inside the BMW have died.
"It is understood, at this time, that the car was being followed by an unmarked police car at the time of the crash."
Witnesses are reported to have described a bang and seeing a large amount of police activity, with a number of cars involved in the crash.
Police set up a cordon and the road is likely to remain closed for most of the day.
IOPC regional director Miranda Biddle said: "This is a most tragic incident and our sympathies are with the family and friends of those who have died.
"West Yorkshire Police made a mandatory referral to the IOPC and at 6.24am we declared an independent investigation. Our investigators are attending post incident procedures, have travelled to the scene and have begun gathering evidence."