Taxi Driver Online

Halifax Courier

January 25, 2008

Firebomb attack on cabbie

A TAXI boss has spoken of his devastation after his office was petrol bombed just days after he launched his business

Imtiaz Hussain, 29, started up AAs Ripponden Private Hire in Elland Road, Ripponden, last Friday.

But yesterday he arrived at work to find the premises had been targeted in an arson attack.

The firebombers hurled a brick through a window before throwing in the explosive, the remains of which were discovered inside.

Mr Hussain, of Grosvenor Terrace, Halifax, said: "I am absolutely devastated."

Police and fire crews were called to the firm, which employs three drivers and one phone operator, at around 4am yesterday.

Luckily, a fire alarm woke the landlord, who sleeps above the office.

He managed to put out most of the flames with a fire extinguisher before firefighters from Halifax and Elland arrived. Mr Hussain, who previously worked for taxi firms in Halifax and Sowerby Bridge, said the heavy workload involved in opening the new business had meant he slept at the office every night until Tuesday evening, when he finally went home. "So it could have been a lot worse," he said.

His office has been left blackened and Mr Hussain said everything inside would need replacing, including lighting, telephones and furniture.

He said: "Everything we need to run the business is gone.

"I am gutted. I have had a few business ventures but I have really been putting the effort in with this one. I was really committed to making it a success."

And he said things were going well, with a good number of customers.

He said security camera footage showed one person throwing a brick through a window, facing Elland Road, before another threw in the bomb.

Police said inquiries were continuing.

A spokesman said it was being classed as arson and scenes of crimes officers had visited the site yesterday.

They are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should call Calderdale police on 01422 337059 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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New firm, used to work for other cab firms.

Hmmmmmm.

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IDFIMH

Yet another attack on the same firm only weeks after we reported the first incident.
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Halifax Courier

February 5, 2008

Taxi firm raiders smash screens of entire fleet

A TAXI firm has been forced off the road after all of its cars were attacked in the same night.

The windscreens of each of AAs Ripponden Private Hire's cabs were smashed early yesterday.

It is the second blow to hit the business, which started up less than three weeks ago.

On January 25 the taxi office, in Elland Road, Ripponden, was petrol bombed by arsonists.

But owner Imtiaz Hussain, of Grosvenor Terrace, Halifax, has vowed not to let the vandals win.

"Some people or someone is obviously trying to put us off the road. I am raging with anger but I am still not going to back down and quit," he said.

Three cars, which all bear the company name, were attacked outside the drivers' homes at around 4am, said Mr Hussain. One was parked in the Hyde Park area of King Cross and two in the Hanson Lane area of Halifax.

He said stones and bricks had been used to break the windscreens but there was no other damage to any of the vehicles.

"You can't drive without a windscreen can you?"

The 29-year-old, who had been working on Sunday night, woke on Monday morning to discover the damage to his own taxi.

He rang his drivers to tell them he would be unable to work the following day only to find out they too had been targeted by the yobs.

"I was shocked. I did not expect the other cars would have had their windscreens smashed.

"Now none of us can work until they are mended so we will lose money as well as having to pay for the repairs."

A police spokesman said officers were investigating the incidents and appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with any information should contact Halifax police on 01422 337059 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Someone dont like him

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FORUMS ARE A GOOD PLACE TO LET OFF STEAM ! DONT TAKE LIFE TO SERIOUSLY ..

Perhaps thats what should have happened round here a few years ago

Unfortunately we don't do things like that round here which is why the rogues seem to thrive not that I am suggesting Mr Hussain is a rogue but most people when setting up in this trade seem to think it is perfectly fair to push cards at customers of their previous employers or offer them discounts on the fare based on inside knowledge of the customer base and charges of that company