A FATHER murdered in a Burnley park may have been attacked after coming to the aid of his bullied son, police have revealed.

Mohammed Shafiq, 50, was stabbed in the abdomen and hit over the head with an iron bar in Thompson Park, beside Burnley College, at 1.30pm yesterday.

His family said Mr Shafiq, of York Street, Nelson, had gone to the park after a phone call for help from his son Umar, 18, a student at the college.

They said Umar had been bullied for several months and was "terrified that he was going to be attacked in the park".

But Mr Shafiq arrived before officers, despite making an emergency call, according to family.

Three men, one aged 20 and two 19, and a 16-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A 17-year-old boy was also being quizzed last night on suspicion of violent disorder.

Police said there was a "large gathering" of between 30 and 50 people at the scene, but that up to five people were allegedly involved in violence.

First cousin Mohammed Attique, 41, of Reedley, said he was at Mr Shafiq's bedside when he died in the Royal Blackburn Hospital on Tuesday night.

He said: "Mr Shafiq had received a phone call from his son saying he was terrified that he was going to be attacked in the park.

"He told his son to speak to a security guard and that he would come over to the college.

"He called the police before setting off.

"When he got there police had not arrived so he went to the park and intervened in a disturbance involving a gang of youths.

"His family were so important to him and he died trying to save his own son."

Family friend Shokat Malik, 42, of Burnley, added: "His son had phoned his father and said there was a gang of youths bullying him so his father rang the police and then made his own way over there as well.

"All we know is he was hit on the head with some weapon and he's been stabbed as well."

Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell, leading the murder investigation, confirmed they were looking into the bullying allegations and that Umar was in the park.

And he revealed they were probing whether the incident was linked to an assault on Umar last October outside Burnley College.

He said they believed Mr Shafiq had tried to act as a peacemaker.

Mr Gradwell said: "I'm aware of a number of telephone calls that were made between the father and son and we are looking into the content of those calls.

"It's too early to say at this stage exactly what's happened.

"At this moment we are still trying to gather witness statements and piece together what happened."

Mr Gradwell said the police were trying to support Mr Shafiq's family who were "devastated and distraught with grief".

He said officers were trying to identify around 20 people who were at the scene and have not yet been spoken to.

Around 50 officers, including detectives, search teams, reassurance patrols and officers conducting house-to-house inquiries, had been drafted into the inquiry, Mr Gradwell said.

A post mortem examination was being carried out last night in a bid to establish a cause of death.

Police are looking for a metal bar and a blade and have drained the lake in Thompson Park as part of the search.

CCTV camera footage, from Burnley College, is to be studied by detectives in a bid for further clues.

Officers said that while there were a number of people in the park, at the time of the incident, the majority were onlookers and not directly involved.

Police said the victim and suspects were Asian and they did not believe there was any racial element.

John Smith, Burnley College principal, said: "I am aware of a tragic incident that took place in Thompson Park adjacent to the college.

"However, I have been informed by the police that the incident is not directly related to the college."

Police are asking anyone who knows anything about the build-up to the incident, witnessed any fighting or saw what happened in the immediate aftermath to contact Burnley Police on 01282 425001.