Four arrested on suspicion of murder in Birmingham disorder

A group of four men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 32-year-old died from a stab wound to the neck in Birmingham. The men aged 24 and 27 had initially been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, but were further detained late last night for murder.The 32-year-old man has been named locally as Ikram Elahi, it is understood he was married with young children. He has not yet been formally identified by his family. Medics initially believed he had suffered a gunshot wound. One witness claimed a gang of "about 200 to 300 lads" had gathered in the area around Stratford Road in Sparkbrook, before the fatal attack on Wednesday evening. A 22-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound and a 25-year-old man who had a slash wound, were rushed to hospital following the attack. The man who was knifed remains in a critical condition, whilst the 22-year-old’s injuries are not believed to be life threatening. A fifth man, aged 22, who was arrested for possession of a class A drug, was bailed last night pending further enquiries. West Midlands Police have launched a major investigation and belive they fray may be connected to an ongoing dispute between two groups of men. Grantham Road and Farm Road remain cordoned off whilst forensic officers scour the scene. Officers will step up the police presence in the area over the weekend and have said there is nothing to suggest there would be any further conflicts.Superintendent Bas Javid said: "The investigation continues today and we are working hard to establish the full circumstances of what has happened. We appreciate how unsettling this is for the community especially when guns and knives are used. We would encourage people not to speculate and again I would reiterate that there is nothing to suggest this will spark any further disorder. We remain in close liaison with local communities and we are listening to any concerns they may have as well as keeping them as up to date with the investigation as possible." Anyone who has any information should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.