Man murdered in Wolverhampton street

A murder inquiry was launched today after a man was stabbed to death and two others knifed when violence flared in a street in Wolverhampton.

Raziul Hassan, aged 24, died after being found by police lying on a driveway in Whitmore Reans and died a short time later.

The tragedy unfolded in Crosby Close, which was the scene of another knife murder in June. The stabbing happened near to his family home.

Click the images on the right to see more pictures from the scene.

The other two victims were today said to be in a serious but stable condition in hospital following the violence at around 10.45pm yesterday.

Today Mr Hassan's uncle Syed Mohsin Abbas, aged 50, of Tettenhall, said: "It was an unprovoked attack. His brother and his cousin were also injured."

Three blue forensic tents have been erected in the street and detectives, forensics officers and specialist search teams were this afternoon still hunting for clues.

The road was partially cordoned off until 11.30am when the perimeter was extended to take in the whole street at its junction with Farndale Avenue.

Residents were being escorted past the cordon and allowed access to their houses, while police patrols have now been stepped up.

Today Det Supt Simon Hyde, head of the Bloxwich-based CID officers who are investigating the murder, said police were trying to establish if reports of a disturbance earlier in the day in the street were linked to the murder.

"We were called at around 10.45pm to a report of disturbance and officers came across three people who were injured.

"One was quite critically injured in the driveway outside an address. The two others were taken to hospital, their injuries are not life threatening.

"They are in a stable condition and we have officers talking with them.

"We still don't have the understanding of what's caused this. We believe there may have been an altercation earlier in the day.

"For me, I wouldn't say that this is gang related. We're maintaining an open mind."

Residents in Crosby Close today told how they heard an angry confrontation in the street moments before the killing.

One, who has lived in the street for nine years, said: "There was shouting and the lad who died had walked across the street from where one tent is to where the second tent is and collapsed.

"I didn't see who did it but I heard they ran off through the estate.

"I've lived here for nine years and it's always been somewhere that things like this happen."

A retired resident in neighbouring Farndale Avenue said: "I was sitting in the front room when it happened. I heard shouting but I didn't go out. It's very bad. It's very worrying."

A 30-year-old resident of Farndale Avenue said: "A neighbour said the attackers came round in two cars.

"I didn't see anything though. I only realised what was happening when the police and ambulance turned up. Within 30 minutes they had cordoned off everything.

"That family had a previous problem last year. There was a fight with somebody, but nobody was stabbed."

In June, 26-year-old Hussain Ali Mohammad, from Newhampton Road East, died after being stabbed in a car in Crosby Close.

A 21-year-old woman has been arrested and released on police bail over the murder of the victim, who lived on the same road. The two killings are not thought to be connected.

Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.