Coroner releases riot car bodies

The bodies of three men who were hit by a car and killed while protecting shops and homes from looters were today released for burial by a coroner.

Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, were struck by a car in the early hours on August 10 during rioting in Birmingham. They were all pronounced dead in hospital.

West Midlands Police said the bodies had been released to their grieving families by Birmingham and Solihull coroner Aidan Cotter.

An open air prayer event has been organised in Summerfield Park in the Winson Green area of Birmingham for tomorrow.

The service, expected to last around 30 minutes, will be followed by private burials.

A police spokeswoman said: "There will be a visible presence of police officers at the event, but not high numbers as this is a peaceful event which is being supported by the police."

Police tonight continued to question a 30-year-old man arrested on Monday in connection with the murders.

Investigating officers have been given until just after 10pm tonight to question the man, who is the seventh person arrested by detectives investigating the murders of the three friends.

The latest arrest followed a preliminary hearing at Birmingham Crown Court in which two men and a teenage boy were charged with the murders.

Joshua Donald, 26, Adam King, 23, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named were remanded in custody to appear at the same court for a plea and case management hearing on December 9.

Donald, of Kelsall Croft, Ladywood, and the youth, from Edgbaston, appeared by videolink.

King, of no fixed address, was in the dock.

PA