Two men received lengthy prison sentences after an accidental shooting derailed their planned attack, exposing a criminal enterprise.
Accidental shooting derails planned attack
Adam Liaqat, 19, and Asad Khan, 22, were preparing for a planned shooting in Smethwick on 23 November last year. The incident occurred shortly before 4.30am on St Paul’s Road.
Liaqat, who was driving a stolen Mitsubishi Outlander, accidentally discharged their firearm. This mishap left his accomplice, Khan, with serious leg injuries.
Khan was subsequently left to get a taxi to a hospital. There, he initially claimed to be unclear about the circumstances of his injury.
During their investigation, West Midlands Police discovered a message. This communication indicated Khan and Liaqat were on their way to conduct a shooting “before their mishap.”
Police arrested Liaqat on 2 December after a pursuit. He was driving a Honda Accord, despite only holding a provisional licence.
His passenger during the pursuit was Yakuba Sawaneh. Items including Class A drugs and a burner phone were thrown from the car as police stopped it in Oldbury.
Prison sentences for three men
- Adam Liaqat, 19, from Sandwell, was jailed for 15 years. He was convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
- Asad Khan, 22, from West Bromwich, received a 13-year sentence. His convictions included possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life/enable another to do so and possession of a Class A drug.
- Yakuba Sawaneh, 19, from Birmingham, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in September. He was found guilty of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
- The firearm incident took place on 23 November last year in Smethwick. The vehicle involved, a Mitsubishi Outlander, had been stolen the previous evening from Rowley Regis.
Public safety and criminal recklessness
The accidental discharge of a firearm in a public area, even before a planned crime could occur, poses a significant and immediate threat to innocent bystanders. Such incidents underscore the inherent dangers that arise when illegal weapons are handled by individuals involved in criminal activity.
This event highlights the unpredictable nature of street-level violence. Even those orchestrating the crime can become victims of their own recklessness and poor judgement.
Beyond the direct danger, the need for emergency services to respond to such an injury places an additional burden on public resources. Khan required hospital treatment for the serious leg injuries he sustained.
The case also reveals the potential for wider disruption and fear within communities. Residents in areas like Smethwick are left to contend with the aftermath of such dangerous criminal acts.
Organised crime and drug networks
This case reflects a broader, troubling pattern of interconnected criminal enterprises in urban areas. Drug dealing and firearm offences frequently overlap, creating a volatile environment.
The involvement of Class A drugs, alongside a burner phone, strongly suggests a degree of organisation within these networks. These are common tools used to facilitate illicit trade and evade detection.
Similar incidents across the West Midlands and other urban areas often involve stolen vehicles and young individuals. For example, recent police operations in Birmingham have targeted gangs linked to both drug supply and violent crime, demonstrating this persistent link between different forms of criminality.
This pattern indicates a systemic challenge for law enforcement. They must dismantle not just individual perpetrators, but also the wider structures that enable such dangerous activities to persist.
The cost of amateurish criminality
The lengthy sentences handed down to Liaqat and Khan serve as a potent reminder of the severe penalties for firearm offences, regardless of whether the intended crime is ultimately completed. This particular case, however, also exposes a notable level of amateurishness within some criminal circles.
Leaving an injured accomplice to find his own way to hospital, coupled with being caught driving a stolen car with drugs, points to a distinct lack of sophisticated planning. These operational failings offer potential avenues for law enforcement to disrupt more serious criminal undertakings.
Nevertheless, the underlying intent to carry out a shooting remains deeply concerning. The justice system must continue to impose stringent sentences to deter others from engaging in such dangerous activities, even if their execution is clumsy.
The public expects robust action against those who threaten community safety with illegal weapons. Allowing for leniency based on incompetence would send the wrong message about the seriousness of these crimes.
The intended target of the attack
The most pressing question that remains undisclosed is the identity of the intended target for the planned shooting. While the perpetrators have been jailed, the specific motive and potential victim of their original plan are not publicly known.
Understanding this could potentially reveal wider conflicts or rivalries within existing criminal networks. Such information is vital for intelligence gathering and preventing future acts of violence.
It is also unclear what further intelligence police gathered about the broader criminal enterprise beyond the immediate arrests. This broader context could be crucial for a more comprehensive approach to tackling organised crime.
