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A massive multi-agency manhunt has shifted into high gear across West Yorkshire and eastern Scotland as detectives escalate their hunt for two outstanding suspects linked to a coordinated ambush that nearly cost a young man his leg. The intensified police activity follows the sentencing of three co-conspirators at Leeds Crown Court, lifting the lid on a sophisticated, broad-daylight strike executed in front of terrified local families. The three convicted men—Sabeel Ayub, Faizaan Bashir, and Fahim Iqbal—received a combined total of 38 years and eight months behind bars after pleading guilty to Section 18 wounding with intent.
The investigation, spearheaded by Kirklees CID, has now pivoted from the courtroom to an urgent search operation to locate the remaining suspects. Officers are actively tracing the movements of 33-year-old Faisal Ali, a well-known figure in the Dewsbury locality, and 33-year-old Kessar Iqbal, whose deep-rooted family ties span from West Yorkshire to his last known address in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Detectives are examining regional transport networks, financial transactions, and secure communications to determine if the pair have fled the country or are being harboured within local safehouses.
The underlying mechanics of the assault point to a meticulously planned operation rather than an isolated street brawl. On 15 May 2025, just before 4:00 pm, the victim, then 23, was deliberately struck at speed by a vehicle on Ravens Crescent in the Scout Hill suburb of Dewsbury. As the victim lay incapacitated on the tarmac, a group of men emerged brandishing high-velocity bladed weapons, including machetes, pulling him to the ground to inflict catastrophic injuries.
The three men already brought to justice are all of South Asian descent. Sabeel Ayub, 33, of Scout Hill, Dewsbury, was handed a custodial sentence of 14 years and eight months. Faizaan Bashir, 26, of Lee Road, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, and Fahim Iqbal, 35, of Coal Pit Mews, Carlinghow, Batley, were both given 12-year custodial sentences. This legal strategy averted a lengthy trial but ultimately triggered major sentences, reflecting the severe public endangerment of an attack staged while young children played nearby.
With three perpetrators behind bars, the strategic priority for West Yorkshire Police has turned entirely to cutting off the logistical support networks of the remaining fugitives. Intelligence analysts are reviewing mobile phone cell-site data associated with Ali and the Scottish-linked Iqbal. Community leaders have quieted anxieties in the neighborhood, but the visual presence of ongoing police inquiries serves as a reminder that this case remains wide open until the final two suspects are in custody.
Speaking to journalists following the court proceedings, Detective Constable Callum Wallace of Kirklees CID emphasized the calculated ruthlessness of the event. He stated that this was clearly a planned and targeted attack, with these three men showing that they were prepared to use extreme levels of violence to meet their ends. He noted that the victim was rushed to hospital and very nearly lost his leg as a result of the injuries inflicted on him. Wallace added that police understand the impact that crimes like this have in communities, noting this particular incident happened in broad daylight while children were out playing in the street, and hoped members of the public are reassured that these three men are now behind bars.
Public Appeal: Members of the public are urged not to approach either Faisal Ali or Kessar Iqbal directly. Anyone with active information regarding their current location or associates is requested to contact Kirklees CID via the West Yorkshire Police live chat portal at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat or by calling 101, referencing crime dossier 13250272813. Anonymity is fully guaranteed through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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