South Shields shooting: Tipu Sultan's funeral takes place

Prayers have been said in the car park of a community centre on Wearside as hundreds gathered to pay their respects to Tipu Sultan, who was murdered in South Shields.

Syed Khalid Miah Olid, chair of the management committee at the Sunderland Bangladeshi Community Centre, said that prayers are not usually said outside in this way, but they did so to make a statement.

He said they wanted to show community strength, but also to encourage anybody with any information to come forward.

Tipu was killed from single gun shot outside the takeaway where he worked in South Shields on Tuesday, April 7.

Mr Miah Olid said he had been to see Tipu's family. He said his children still have no come to terms with their father's death and still think he is going to come home and take them to the park.

More than 300 people have gathered at the Bangladeshi Community Centre in Sunderland to pay their respects and join Tipu Sultan's family and friends as they say prayers.

Tipu Sultan's coffin has arrived at the Bangladeshi Community Centre in Sunderland.

More than 300 people are expected pay their respects and join Tipu's family and friends as they say prayers.

Last night a vigil was held by the local community outside the takeaway in South Shields where Tipu was shot dead on Tuesday, April 7.

His family and close friends will attend a private service later in the day.

The funeral of Tipu Sultan will take place today (Wednesday, April 22).

The father-of-two was shot dead at point blank range outside the takeaway where he worked on April 7.

Last night a vigil was held by the local community to remember him.

The man who has organised the vigil to remember murdered takeaway worker Tipu Sultan has said he felt compelled to bring the community together.

Lalon Amin was speaking to ITV Tyne Tees ahead of the vigil outside the Herbs and Spice Kitchen in South Shields this evening, the place where Tipu was shot dead on Tuesday, April 7.

He said: "Tipu Sultan left tremendous love behind with the local community and I thought it was a great opportunity for the whole local community to come together to pay their respects."

Also at vigil was Jay Islam. He and Tipu Sultan were childhood childhood friends. He says the everyone is still struggling to come to terms with his death.

He said: "When you see his family in tears and his kids are always asking when is our father going to be coming back, we have got no answers. It is big shocking news, especially how Tipu Sultan has always been involved the community."

A vigil will be held tonight outside a takeaway where a father was shot dead in a targeted murder by two men on a motorbike.

Friends of Tipu Sultan will gather in South Shields and hold a minute's silence, as well as lay more flowers and read poems.

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He has been released on bail.

The funeral of Tipu Sultan will take place on Wednesday, April 22.

The father-of-two was shot dead at point blank range outside the takeaway where he worked on April 7.

Northumbria Police has today confirmed the second post mortem of Tipu Sultan has taken place.

Officers say it has been established the 32-year-old died of a gunshot wound.

Mr Sultan's family have appealed to the public to "take five or ten seconds out of their life to say a little prayer to their God for Tipu".

• Read more: 'The way Tipu died has left our world totally shattered'

The father of two was shot dead at point blank range outside Herbs and Spices kitchen in South Shields last Tuesday, April 7.

Police investigating the murder of Mr Sultan believe two men seen on a red motorbike at the time of the shooting are responsible for his death.

• Watch: CCTV released in South Shields shooting investigation