The first custody images have been released of men convicted over a planned machete attack in Bradford which left one victim with devastating life-changing injuries and another with serious wounds to his neck.
Mohammed Waqqas Khan, Rahees Khan, Hanzalah Saladin, Adam Takolia and a fifth man who cannot be named for legal reasons were found guilty at Bradford Crown Court on Friday of two counts each of conspiracy to murder Mohammed Zayad Khan and Mohammed Usamah Khan.
Former West Yorkshire Police Community Support Officer Alice Dobson was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice after confidential information held by the force was accessed and subsequently passed to the men involved in the plot.
Dobson was seen entering court wearing a niqab durign the trial.
Victims Boxed In Before Machete Attack
The attack took place on Tickhill Street in Bradford at around 10pm on May 11, 2025.
Prosecutors said Zayad and Usamah were together in a VW Tiguan when a Mitsubishi Shogun rammed the vehicle without warning before driving into its side.
The Tiguan was then trapped between vehicles, with a BMW X3 also being driven into it.
With their car blocked in, both men attempted to escape on foot but were chased by men armed with machete-type bladed weapons.
Zayad Khan Had Hand Severed
Usamah Khan managed to get away despite being struck with what prosecutors said appeared to be a machete, suffering significant wounds to the back of his neck.
Zayad Khan ran in the opposite direction but was caught and surrounded.
The court heard that he was repeatedly struck with heavy bladed weapons, with blows directed at his head, arms and legs.
He suffered a wound to the top of his head with an underlying skull fracture, while his left hand was completely severed.
His left leg was also partially amputated at knee level and he suffered severe blood loss before being left at the scene.
Prosecutor Stephen Wood KC told the court that Zayad had effectively been “left for dead”.
Five Men Convicted Of Conspiracy To Murder
The men convicted were:
Mohammed Waqqas Khan, of Folkestone Street, Bradford, who was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to murder.
Rahees Khan, of no fixed abode but formerly of Granton Street, Bradford, who was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to murder and perverting the course of justice.
Hanzalah Saladin, of no fixed abode, Bradford, who was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to murder.
Adam Takolia, of no fixed abode, Bradford, who was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to murder.
A fifth man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to murder.
West Yorkshire Police later released custody images of the convicted men following the verdicts.
Alice Dobson Convicted Of Perverting Course Of Justice
Dobson, a former PCSO with West Yorkshire Police, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice after accessing operational information and passing confidential material to the defendants.
Rahees Khan was convicted of the same offence.
Police said the information accessed through force systems related to the wider investigation and was obtained without a legitimate policing purpose.
Dobson has also previously admitted one count of perverting the course of justice and one count of misconduct in public office in relation to separate matters.
Those offences included accessing police systems without legitimate justification, seeking to influence police investigations and obtaining confidential information about individuals through police computer systems.
Jury Discharged After Tampering Allegation
The trial began in July before a jury but was halted in August after an allegation of jury tampering.
His Honour Judge Jonathan Rose discharged the jury and later decided that the trial should continue without one.
Judge Rose subsequently heard the remainder of the case alone and delivered the verdicts himself.
Witness Intimidation Charge Brought
West Yorkshire Police also confirmed that a man has been charged with witness intimidation in connection with the proceedings.
Amir Khan, 34, of Folkestone Street, has been charged with witness intimidation and was remanded in custody.
He is due to appear in court again on January 18.
Two women, aged 36 and 42, were also arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation and have been released on bail while enquiries continue.
Police Describe Attack As ‘Calculated’ And ‘Pre-Planned’
Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins described the attack as calculated, pre-planned and horrific, saying the men had attempted to take the law into their own hands.
She said the victims continue to live with the consequences of the attack and described Dobson’s conviction as a serious breach of the trust placed in police staff.
West Yorkshire Police said employees are repeatedly reminded that information held on police systems must only be accessed for legitimate policing purposes.
Dobson remains suspended from duty and is expected to face gross misconduct proceedings.
Sentencing In New Year
The five men convicted of conspiracy to murder were remanded in custody following the verdicts.
They are due to be sentenced on February 8, 2027.
Dobson was granted bail and will be sentenced on a date yet to be fixed.
