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As of February 28, 2026, the investigation into the death of Suhail Choudry has shifted into a high-stakes forensic and legal battle.
Detectives deploy digital dragnet and forensic mapping to link nine suspects to coordinated Keighley ambush.
The Digital Dragnet and Pre-Planned Ambush Theory
The investigation into the murder of 35-year-old father Suhail Choudry has entered a highly sensitive new phase. While West Yorkshire Police have officially confirmed nine arrests, the strategy has moved from initial apprehensions to the complex construction of a "joint enterprise" case. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET) are now leveraging a "digital dragnet," analyzing cell site data and deleted messages to build a precise 30-minute timeline leading up to the attack. Sources indicate that forensic data places several of the accused in a "staging area" near Malsis Road for approximately half an hour before Mr. Choudry arrived at Flasby Street on February 8. This suggests the assault was not a chance encounter but a coordinated ambush, potentially exposing all participants to life sentences regardless of who struck the final blow.
Read More: 30-Minute Trap: Did a ‘Digital Dragnet’ Just Seal the Fate of Suhail’s Killers?
Custody Status and the Expansion of Suspects
The current judicial landscape for Operation Pandemus involves a widening net of accountability. Five primary suspects—Rashid Hussain (41), Mohammed Aliyan Khan (23), Faisal Khan (26), Hakeem Gulzar (27), and a recently detained 42-year-old man—remain remanded in custody on charges of murder, violent disorder, and possession of offensive weapons. Furthermore, a 36-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman are currently on police bail under suspicion of assisting an offender and conspiracy to commit murder, respectively. Most recently, reports have surfaced of a potential 10th individual questioned this week and released under investigation, as police broaden their search for "spotters" who may have tracked Mr. Choudry’s movements.
Judicial Roadmap and Forensic Challenges
The path to justice has been extended following a significant procedural shift at Bradford Crown Court. His Honour Judge Neil Clark has consolidated the cases for a comprehensive trial now scheduled for January 25, 2027. This 11-month window is designed to allow the prosecution to process a massive volume of forensic evidence, including DNA recovery from the sticks and bats used in the attack and the decryption of mobile devices. The immediate milestone remains the Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH) on March 19, 2026. This hearing is critical, as it will be the first time all primary defendants are expected to formally enter their pleas following the technical failures that hampered previous video link appearances from HMP Hull.
Community Tensions and Family Tributes
The brutality of the attack continues to resonate through the Keighley community. Senior Investigating Officer DCI Matt Holdsworth has reiterated that the assault was "targeted," and police are investigating links to a series of lower-level violent incidents that occurred in the 72 hours preceding the murder. As the forensic net tightens, the family of Mr. Choudry—including his widow Zara, who is expecting their third child—awaits the next phase of the legal process. The investigation remains active, with police continuing to appeal for witnesses near the Spencer Street and Parsons Street cordons to help finalize the map of the group pursuit.
