‘Drug dealer’ who was shot dead by cops on M62 ‘held gun to woman’s head days before his violent death’
A "DRUG dealer" who was shot dead by cops on the M62 reportedly held a gun to a woman's head just days before his violent death.
ITV Criminologist Mark Williams-Thomas claimed a source tipped him off to the startling claims, adding police were "totally justified to believe he had a gun".
Williams-Thomas claimed: "My source says : Mohammed Yassar Yaqub had held a gun to a female's head in the days before the pre-planned operation to arrest him."
Police today said a man has been charged with firearms offences relating to a loaded semi-automatic handgun in connection with the police sting.
Moshin Amin, 30, from Drewsbury, is charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of a sound moderator and possession of ammunition.
He has been detained in custody to appear before magistrates on Friday morning, West Yorkshire Police said.
It comes after Yaqub's devastated dad described the moment his 28-year-old son was shot dead on the M62 on Monday as a "pre-planned assassination".
The dad, also Mohammed Yaqub, said he felt his son was "killed unlawfully" and said he would be demanding answers to the "unjustifiable" killing, as he compared his son's death to the police shooting of Mark Duggan.
Devastated mum Sofia sobbed uncontrollably as her husband demanded answers for their son, who he claims police killed because they "didn't like him".
Today Mr Yaqub senior insisted his son was "no risk", as he told : "He was a very kind hearted young man who would do anything for anybody.
“Given the same chance I would have the same son time after time after time.
“I don’t believe he was a risk. I believe he was a target and that it was a pre planned assassination."
Around 100 people gathered on the M62 slip road where the young dad was shot dead by a West Yorkshire Police officer in a 'pre-planned operation' on Monday night.
His parents held each other as they sobbed at a vigil held in Huddersfield, West Yorks last night.
Mr Yaqub senior said: "He hasn't got a bad past, because he's never been convicted of anything."
He said he wanted "answers, full answers, nothing but the truth" about his son's death.
Grieving Mohammed wiped away tears as he left the family's mosque and drew similarities to the police shooting of Mark Duggan in London in August 2011.
He said: "He was shot in the car instantly but I don't know much more than that - now the IPCC are looking into it.
"How can you justify it - it is just impossible.
"He was driving down, he was cornered, and bearing in mind it was dark, how could you have seen what he was doing?"
He added: "He didn't deserve this - I thought this is something that happens in America but not here.
"And it is not right that the police weren't wearing body cameras. I want answers for what has happened.
"I will go privately if I have to, in the end I need to find out.
"I am well aware of what happened with Mark Duggan and because of what was revealed first, and what the outcome was, it has worried me a lot."
He added: "My son was brilliant - he was the best son a father could wish for. Our hearts are broken with what has happened - he is my only son.
"He was the best anyone could ever hope for. He was our little boy and we miss him.
"All I want to do is bury my son and I will speak properly after the funeral."
According to the creators of a Facebook page called Justice 4 Mohammed Yasser Yaqub he was killed unlawfully.
Nearly 2,000 people have followed the page that states: "Mohammed Yasser Yaqub murdered by Yorkshire Police! Ambushed, assassinated and left to die.. How can we live in a world that thinks this is acceptable?"
The vigil began at 7pm with mourners lighting candles and blowing up balloons.
Friends wearing specially printed jumpers hanged banners on a signpost and on a fence above a grass bank above the motorway.
Their jumpers included the claims "no chance to surrender, no warning shots, unlawful killing".
A handwritten banner, taped to the signpost, read: "Stop police assassinations."
One of the printed banners on the fence read: "Rest in peace Yassar #justiceforyassar".
There was no police presence other than a marked police car which drove past the vigil.
The crowd quickly grew with around 150 people showing up to pay tribute to the young dad-of-two.
Around 70 colourful balloons were released to pay respect to Yassar.
One of the floral tributes had a card that read: "Yas, Sleep tight, this still feels so surreal. Thank you for always being the life & soul of any party. I'm gonna miss you. Ellee xx [sic]".
Another read: "Yassar, this is just a bad dream. It's not forever. The day we can all see you again can't come quick enough. I love you forever and always my Yahboo. Love you the all world [sic]".
The vigil lasted for around 30 minutes.
"It comes as "spontaneous" protests over the 28-year-old's death in Bradford brought roads to a standstill.
Officers were deployed to Shipley Airedale Road, Leeds Road, Wakefield Road and surrounding routes in order to help out with the “peaceful protest”.
Officers said a suspected firearm was found in the car carrying Mr Yaqub, 28, who was shot by cops on the motorway last night and images of his Huddersfield home show Mr Yaqub took security seriously as the property is scattered with cameras.
Pictures emerged of the young dad, as well as the three bullet holes in the windscreen of the white Audi he was travelling in when he was gunned down.
One friend, who asked not to be named, said: “Yasser was a loved man and a loyal friend. He really was a lovely man a family man at that. Nobody's perfect but he didn't deserve this.
“He would do anything to help anyone. Why he got shot I don't know. What I do know is he didn't deserve this, he really didn't. May Allah protect his family and hope they get justice.”
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A Facebook user said: “Cannot believe what I'm hearing this morning. RIP Yasser. Thinking of you and your family.”
Family friend Mohammed Rafiq, 57, said: "Everyone is shocked really - and we'll find out from an investigation what actually happened."
West Yorkshire Police said five people were arrested on Monday evening, three from the incident on the M62 and two more from a related stop of a second vehicle in the Chain Bar area of Bradford.
Officers said some of those detained had required hospital treatment for injuries "not related to firearm discharge".
A neighbour said she had once heard gunshots being fired at Yaqub's house and afterwards decided to put up CCTV.
Seven years ago he was acquitted during an attempted murder trial.
Yaqub had been accused of being one of the gunmen in a drive-by shooting near Huddersfield in 2009.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been informed of the shooting and launched an investigation.
West Yorkshire Police said: "We can confirm the operation related to information received about criminal possession of a firearm, as a result of which vehicles were stopped at two separate locations.
"The five men arrested are currently in custody."
Police have said the operation was not terror related.
A spokesman for the IPCC said: "The IPCC understands the man was shot by a West Yorkshire Police firearms officer shortly after 6pm on Monday 2 January close to Junction 24 of the M62 motorway.
"IPCC investigators remain at the scene and are attending post incident procedures in order to gather evidence during the early stages of this investigation.
"The man’s family has been informed."
Motorists initially thought a "bad crash" had closed all lanes near junction 24, but it emerged five hours later that a Yaqub had been shot after police released a statement.
The operation is believed to be the fifth fatal police shooting in England and Wales in nine months.
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