Thirteen years after Yasar Abbas was hacked to death with an axe or meat cleaver in a premeditated ambush in Alumwell, Walsall, his killers remain at large. The 28-year-old father-of-two from Birchills died in hospital four days after the attack in April 2013, leaving behind a pregnant wife and a community in shock.
Brutal Attack and Bogus Order
Mr. Abbas, who worked for Moon Palace Takeaway, was lured to his death by a false delivery order. Three masked men lay in wait and attacked him as he arrived in his silver Vauxhall Corsa. Witnesses reported seeing three individuals approach the vehicle before the assault. Despite a manhunt by murder squad detectives, the killers were never convicted.
Investigation Stalls
Ten people were arrested but released without charge. A £10,000 reward offered by police failed to generate crucial information. Detective Inspector Gary Plant of West Midlands Police stated in 2015: “The investigation is ongoing and will be reviewed on a regular basis until his attackers are brought to justice. People out there know who is responsible for the death of this young man and for the sake of his family - who are still very much grieving for his loss - I am appealing to those persons to come forward and help us.”
Family's Ongoing Grief
Mr. Abbas's wife, Shabnam Bi, said in an appeal a year after his death: “I just wish we could get some peace of mind by knowing his murderers are locked up.” Detectives believe the attack may have been linked to an argument involving two groups a few months earlier. Police relaunched the appeal in 2015, but the case went cold and remains one of the region's most high-profile unsolved murders.
