Masked Men attacked Victims with Weapons in Feud

A feud between families led to a horrific attack involving masked men storming a house armed with a sword and machete.

Masked Men attacked Victims with Weapons in Feud f

"A feud had arisen between the parties"

Owais Ali, aged 20, of Rochdale, was jailed for six years after he was involved in the storming of a house following a feud between families.

He and another male were armed with a sword and machete.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard that the “chaotic” and “terrifying” raid took place at a home on Mellor Street in May 2020.

Julian King, prosecuting, said the victim was Abbas Mushtaq and his mother Zahida Bi.

Mr King said: “Abbas Mushtaq knew the defendant’s brothers from when they were young men.

“By 2017 these brothers were involved in some forms of criminality such as stolen cars.

“A feud had arisen between the parties which escalated in the twelve months before the offence.

“There were a number of serious incidents, none of which were reported to police, but which were of real concern to Mr Mushtaq.”

The day before the incident, an unregistered car had been set on fire. It is believed that this led to the violence.

Mr Mushtaq was at home with his family and was sleeping when there was a knock at the door at around 11 pm.

One of his sisters answered and there was a woman standing there.

She began accusing the family of being responsible for a car being set alight and for her brother being in hospital.

Mr King continued: “Mr Mushtaq’s sister felt a push to her back and saw two males run in the house and up the stairs.

“One male had a sword in his hand and raised it up in front of him.”

Mr Mushtaq was in a bedroom with his two younger brothers when he “heard some footsteps”.

He opened the door and saw a “big male wearing a black balaclava with a machete”, believed to be Ali, and another male with a sword.

Mr King said: “All [Mr Mushtaq] could do was put his arms in front of his face.”

The victim was slashed multiple times with both weapons. His mother tried to grab the sword but the attacker “snatched it back, causing a wound”.

Ms Bi continued trying to defend her son, grabbing the attacker’s wrist and leaving the sword “stuck in the wall”.

Mr King said: “The male unprised it out of the wall and ran out of the house.

“One of the males was heard to say you ‘Yo Aziz let’s go’.

Mr Mushtaq suffered multiple slash wounds and lost consciousness.

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition where he spent the next 10 days undergoing treatment.

His injuries included cuts that went to the bone and severed tendons in his hands.

Fortunately, Mr Mushtaq is expected to make a full recovery in the long term.

However, more than a year later, he remains unable to care for himself.

In a victim statement, Mr Mushtaq has been left with both “physical and psychological issues”.

He said: “I wake up some mornings and think I would be better off dead.

“I have to have a carer, I can’t feed myself, put my clothes on or brush my teeth.”

“Everything that was a routine is now a challenge.”

Mr Mushtaq added that he has trouble sleeping and often wakes up in “hot sweats reliving the attack”.

Ali admitted offences including section 18 wounding, section 20 assault and possession of a bladed article.

Ali Bajwa QC, defending, said Ali admitted that he committed “horrible and serious” offences and that he regretted his actions.

Mr Bajwa said: “He wishes he could turn the clock back.”

In mitigation, Ali said he was “manipulated or used by others who he does not wish to name”.

Mr Bajwa also asked the court to consider Ali’s age at the time of the offence.

Ali was sentenced to six years detention in a Young Offenders’ Institute for the wounding offence, one year for the section 20 assault and one year for possession of a bladed article.

The sentences are to run concurrently.



Dhiren is a News & Content Editor who loves all things football. He also has a passion for gaming and watching films. His motto is to "Live life one day at a time".




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