Tipu Sultan Murder - 1 Month on

Police investigating the murder of Tipu Sultan are continuing to appeal for information, a month after he was killed. At just before 9:58pm on Tuesday, April 7, Tipu Sultan was approached by a man armed with a gun and shot from close range at the rear of the Herbs n Spice Kitchen takeaway in Lake Avenue in South Shields. Police and paramedics were called to the scene however Tipu died as result of single gunshot wound. Two men on a motorbike were seen driving into the rear lane in Lake Avenue just before the incident and seen driving away immediately after the shooting. Officers believe that these two men were responsible for the murder of Tipu Sultan and enquiries are underway to identify and locate them. Since the investigation was launched officers have seized over 2,000 hours of CCTV footage from the area where the shooting happened. Over 1,000 homes have been visited by officers carrying out house to house enquiries and 225 statements have been taken. The incident room has received in excess of 100 phonecalls, emails, web submissions and letters from members of the public passing on information. Enquiries into all of these are ongoing and Detective Chief Inspector John Bent, who is leading the murder inquiry, is thanking the public for all of their support with the investigation. DCI Bent said:

"We are pleased with the response from the local community in South Shields and especially from local residents in and around Lake Avenue. The Bangladeshi communities in both South Shields and Sunderland have been really supportive to the investigation team and I would like to express our thanks to everyone who has come forward and spoke to us so far. A month on since Tipu was murdered, we continue to have a team of detectives working on this case - following up leads, checking CCTV footage and speaking with witnesses. Somebody somewhere knows who murdered Tipu Sultan and we are getting closer to finding out who that is and why they did it. We will continue to work until we find those responsible and I'd urge anyone with information to pass it onto police as soon as possible." A 35-year-old man was arrested on April 12 and he has been bailed pending further enquiries. Anyone with any information that could help with enquiries is asked to contact police as soon as possible on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference number 1255 07/04/15. Information can be passed anonymously by ringing Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.