Two more held in Leeds hit-and-run probe

Two more people have been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run incident which left a two-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister fighting for their lives.

A 39-year-old man is being questioned on suspicion of dangerous driving and a 26-year-old man is being held on suspicion of assisting an offender after Rayhan Saleem and his sister Sabah were knocked down by a car in Brudenell Road, Hyde Park, Leeds, on Saturday.

A 36-year-old man is also in custody after being arrested last night on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident, West Yorkshire Police said.

Police said Sabah remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Her brother is continuing to improve.

A force spokeswoman said: “Three people have now been arrested in relation to the collision.

”A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop and failing to report a collision.

“A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

”A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

“All three men are from the north-west Leeds area.”

Rayhan and Sabah were hit at around 5.20pm on Saturday after buying onions for the family's Eid celebrations.

A cousin, who was with the youngsters, escaped injury.

The children underwent surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

Police released an image of the silver or grey mark 4 Vauxhall Astra believed to have been involved in the incident.

Detectives also said they believed a woman seen in the street at the time may have witnessed what happened and urged her to contact them.

Yesterday, Detective Superintendent Paul Taylor, who is leading the inquiry, said Sabah's father thinks she is “the apple of his eye”, while her brother was due to start nursery in October.

Police are continuing to appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information to contact them.

PA