Police in Bradford are continuing to appeal to local community for their help to find the killer of a man in a local park over a game of football.
Beyake Keita-Ann, who was 21, suffered serious head injuries following a disturbance between two groups of people in Attock Park in Laisterdyke at about 8pm on Tuesday, 23 August.
He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary, but sadly died three weeks later and a murder investigation was launched.
A 17-year-old male received minor injuries which needed hospital treatment.
The attack is believed to have occurred close to some football pitches, where the victims had been playing just moments before. It is understood that the violence was sparked by the friends' football hitting a car parked on the road nearby, when they went to fetch the ball an altercation occurred with two Asian men. Then an armed gang arrived and the two friends were set upon by the gang brandishing machetes, sticks and baseball bats
A total of nine men aged between 17 and 46 have been arrested in connection with the inquiry.
Six are currently on bail pending further enquiries. Three have been released without charge.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Scott, of the Homicide and Major Enquiries Team, said:
"While a number of enquiries have already been completed in relation to this investigation, this is now being treated as a murder inquiry and we are continuing to appeal for information.
"We believe the victims were playing football in the park from around 6pm and that the park was very busy, so we would ask for anyone who was using the park at that time to contact us.
"It is vital that anyone who may have seen anything suspicious comes forward, so we can establish what happened and who was responsible for inflicting the injuries which sadly proved fatal for Mr Keita-Ann.
"This attack took place in a popular public area in Laisterdyke and we believe the answers will be found in the local community.
"Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team via 101, quoting crime reference 13160363829 or to pass details anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Local Councillor Riaz Ahmed has also appealed for any potential witnesses to come forward. He told reporters “I’m very dismayed at the fact that this happened in broad daylight in front of other people. It’s shocking. Nobody has come forward with any information yet.”
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