Suspect in kidnapping of British boy killed in shootout

Sahil Saeed, from Oldham, was taken from his grandparents' house in Jhelum on 4 March by a gang of heavily armed men. He was released unharmed on 16 March after a ransom of 110,000 was paid.

Police official Tariq Abbas said yesterday that a suspect called Safeer, also known as Safeera, who allegedly played a major part in the kidnapping, was killed during a shootout when two men tried to seize him from a police van taking him to court in Gujarat city.

Mr Abbas said the two men attempting to free him were also killed.

On 24 March, police in Pakistan arrested two suspects, including one alleged to be the kidnap mastermind.

The pair were captured during a series of raids in the city of Jhelum, involving 200 officers.

Regional police chief Muhammad Aslam Tareen said the men decided to take the boy and demand a ransom during an opportunistic burglary.

The police chief said the house where the boy was kidnapped was targeted after a door was left open. He said arms and ammunition were also recovered in the raids, including Kalashnikovs, automatic weapons, hand grenades, rocket launchers and explosive devices.

Following his son's safe return, Raja Saeed said the gang had threatened to put an explosive jacket on Sahil and "blow him to pieces".

He said the kidnappers – four men with guns and grenades – ambushed the family as they prepared to travel to the airport by taxi at the end of their holiday.

Several arrests have been made in Spain and Pakistan in relation to the kidnapping.