Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
2h ago

CCTV Shows Vehicles Ramming Birmingham Café as Police Probe £300,000 Blackmail Claim

Police are investigating alleged blackmail after the owners reported extortion calls following two attacks on their Bab Al Hara businesses.

Image
Image

Overview

  • West Midlands Police confirmed attacks on August 30 and September 14 at Bab Al Hara on Grafton Road in Sparkbrook, with vehicles forcing open doors and shutters.
  • Newly published CCTV shows a Range Rover repeatedly striking the café in the first incident, then a 4x4 hitting the café and a pickup damaging the adjacent banqueting venue in the second.
  • The family reports callers demanded £300,000 and warned their businesses would close within six months if they did not pay.
  • Police say they seized the Range Rover used in the first attack and are providing safeguarding support while investigating aggravated burglary and blackmail.
  • The owners believe the intimidation is tied to a seven-year local feud; police have not confirmed a motive and are appealing for information quoting crime number 20/374985/25.