FIVE men were due to be questioned today after being arrested by police investigating the assault which has left 21-year-old Shahbaz Arshad fighting for his life.

Mr Arshad is still critically ill in the Royal Preston Hospital after suffering severe head injuries in an attack in an alley between Halifax Road and Hartington Street, Brierfield, on Friday night.

And today his family issued a plea for the local community to help bring his attackers to justice.

Shahbaz of Woodfield Terrace, Brierfield, was chased into the back street by a group of Asian men believed to have been carrying iron bars. His sister, Saimah, 18, told how Shahbaz had picked her up from Burnley General Hospital just hours before the attack, which happened around 11.10pm on Friday. She was seriously hurt in a road accident in Brierfield a fortnight ago.

He left her at home early in the evening to go to the nearby 147 Breakers Snooker Club.

"Shahbaz gets along with everyone, from children to old people," said Saimah. "He has loads of friends and they are all devastated by what's happened. People are praying for him five times a day in the mosque.

"We want the eople who did this to him to get what they deserve. We want people to tell the police what they know and to help in any way they can.

"We don't want anyone else to have to go through what he has." Mr Arshad's wife Shukria has spent the days since the attack at his bedside at Royal Preston Hospital. The couple have a two-year-old daughter Maria and Shukria is expecting their second child next month.

Mr Arshad's parents and daughter were in Pakistan on holiday at the time of the attack.

His mother was today flying back to this country. His father and daughter are staying out there. He also has another sister, Ashifa, 22.

Saimah added: "Shahbaz is a fun-loving person. He is always happy and he loves his family and daughter.

"He told me that day that he was so happy because I was home and he didn't have to worry about me any more.

"He didn't deserve to have this happen. I just can't believe anyone could do this to him."

Acting Det Supt Paul Buschini who is leading the 40-officer inquiry said today that five men had been arrested and were being questioned about the assault.

No-one has been charged.

House to house inquiries are still taking place in the Halifax Road area and police are still appealing for anyone who was in the area between 10.30pm and midnight on Friday to contact the police on 01282 425001.

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