Cab driver furious at attack by airgun yob

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Cab-driver-furious-at-attack.5851889.jp

Published Date: 25 November 2009
By Polly Rippon
A TAXI driver has described the frightening moment he was targeted by a thug with an air rifle as he dropped off a fare in Sheffield.
Hackney cab driver Tahir Khan said he heard a loud bang as his vehicle was shot at at around 11pm on Saturday night.

Mr Khan, from Grimesthorpe, who has been a taxi driver for 14 years, said: "I could have crashed into a wall and killed everybody in the cab. Air rifles can kill - they are very powerful and people have died."

The cabbie said he had a couple sitting in the back of his vehicle and was level with a block of flats on Stannington Road, Stannington, when they heard a loud bang.

He said: "At first I thought it was kids throwing stones or bricks because we get that quite a lot. I had a couple in the back of the cab so I reassured them. But then when I got out to inspect the damage and realised what had happened I was quite scared."

Mr Khan said he found a pellet mark on the driver's side of the cab just below the glass window and the body work had been dented.

He added: "We provide a service. We are licensed through Sheffield City Council and I was just doing my job. We are used to getting bricked and stoned but now it's firearms attacks and it feels very unsafe.

"Whoever is doing this is a danger to the public. If that had gone through the glass it would have hit me in the face or even hit my customers."

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said another vehicle had been targeted on the same evening in the same area.

She said: "We are investigating reports two vehicles were shot at with what is believed to be an air weapon in the Stannington Road area of Sheffield.

"The incidents, one of which involved a taxi, all occurred at 11pm on Saturday. No one was injured."

She said officers from the Hillsborough Safer Neighbourhood Team would be patrolling the area to reassure residents.

Anyone with information should contact PC Steve Hemsley on 0114 2964892.

watts new same old reply will any one get caught .smack on wrist if they do herd sharrow getting cams for cabs any news

I haven't heard anything about that John, I remember Mr Andy Christian use to post on our old forum and he was involved with the last scheme to fit cameras in cabs from Pitsmoor but heard nothing about Sharrow. Having said that, the cameras are now a lot cheaper now and well within budget of the normal cab driver, so we shouldn't be waiting for such schemes if we value our own safety. That's my opinion only John and seeing as I'm still without a camera maybe should start by practicing what I preach

Did you notice at the end of the news article that after the attack on taxi drivers the police will be putting on extra patrols to reassure the residents, what's that all about?