Sheffield man who spent 20 years working in community devastated as house and car windows smashed in targeted attack

Shahid Ali, a former Liberal Democrat candidate, was awoken at his Nether Edge home just before midnight last night (Sunday, August 23) after hearing a ‘loud bang’.

He rushed to his 11-year-old son’s bedroom, worried he had fallen out of bed, and found him awake saying: “Dad, there’s noises outside.”

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Mr Ali looked out of the window and could see the windows of the vehicle had been smashed in.

On further inspection he found that his kitchen window and front door window had also been shattered.

Speaking to this Star this morning, Mr Ali, clearly very distressed by the incident, said: “I have absolutely no clue who did this.

"I know the attack is targeted, as I live on a quiet cul-de-sac where nothing of this sort tends to happen.

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"You’ll be aware of all the problems in Nether Edge at the moment, and how community have groups have said the solution is to engage with young people.

"For the past 20 years that’s what I’ve been doing. I run weekend cricket for local kids and have always tried to get involved positively with the community.

“It looks like someone took a hammer to my car and house as it was all done very quickly. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep for worry.

"I have family and friends are the country who’ve offered to come to Sheffield to support me but I’ve told them no. I’m happy to face whoever it is has a problem with me.”

Mr Ali said it took around 11 hours for police to turn up.

It comes after numerous shootings and gang related incidents in the area over lockdown.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson confirmed that the force were investigating.

They said: “This incident has been reported to us and an investigation has been launched.

"Enquiries are underway and reassurance visits are being carried out by our local neighbourhood policing team.

"Anyone with information should call 101 with incident number 1072 of August 23.”

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