Family of man who died during immigration raid at Newport car wash want answers about his death

Mustafa Dawood, 23, died at the Shaftesbury car wash in Albany Street, on Saturday June 30.

Abdalaziz Osman, Mr Dawood’s cousin, said: “The whole family want to know why this happened. We have been told what happened but we have seen no evidence.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the death, has said Mr Dawood was working at the car wash when uniformed immigration officers arrived, before climbing onto the roof of an adjoining factory and falling from a height.

Mr Osman added: “We have a solicitor who is taking the case and we want to see the evidence before we bury Mustafa.”

Mr Dawood’s brother, Ahmed Dawood, lives in Colorado, America, and flew over to the UK when he learnt of his death.

“It is very difficult to lose someone who is a close brother,” he said.

“I used to talk to Mustafa by phone, he said he was happy in Newport and that he was waiting for papers from the Home Office.

“I am feeling so sad and angry.”

Mr Dawood had fled Sudan as a member of the Zaghawa tribe, his brother said, which have been targeted by the government in a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

“It is not a safe place in Sudan,” Mr Dawood added. “And that is why he was here. “There has been a war since 2003 and a lot of people have died. He travelled by sea to Lybia and came to the UK in 2015.”

Mr Dawood said he hopes to meet representatives from the Home Office and has already met with the IOPC.

“I am going to see what they say,” he said.

“It will take time to find out what happened.”

Abdul, Mr Dawood’s cousin said he loved football and was nicknamed Casillas, after the former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper.

He said: “He was popular, respectful and always willing to learn new things.

“He had a lot of friends here and he said he liked Newport.”

The IOPC have asked witnesses to the incident to contact them by caling 0800 029 4689 or emailing shaftesburycarwashdsi@policeconduct.gov.uk