Moment gunman who fled the UK after shooting a businessman dead is taken off a plane in handcuffs

A gunman who fled the UK after shooting a businessman dead in a botched robbery has been jailed for life after being extradited from Pakistan.

Tahir Zarif, 31, brutally murdered warehouse manager Akhtar Javeed in Birmingham during an armed robbery before he fled to Pakistan. 

Footage released today shows Zarif being taken off a plane in handcuffs after he was extradited in 2020.

Zarif and three other men raided the Direct Source 3 warehouse on Rea Street in Digbeth, Birmingham in 2016 as they searched for cash.

Tahir Zarif is pictured as officers prepare to arrest him on the flight following his extradition to the UK

Shocking footage shows Zarif during the robbery in 2016 before he murdered Akhtar Javeed

The gang demanded that Mr Javeed hand over the money, threatening him with their weapons.

Zarif then brought him to the warehouse safe and shot him in the leg as he tried to force him to open it.

When Mr Javeed tried to escape, he was shot twice more by Zarif at point black range, shown in shocking CCTV footage played at the trial.

He then stumbled out into the street before collapsing and dying of his gunshot wounds.

The rest of the gang were arrested and imprisoned following the botched robbery as Zarif fled overseas.

Today, he was jailed for life with a minimum of 30 years for Mr Javeed’s murder.

Zarif has also been sentenced to 18 years in jail for conspiracy to rob, and handed two seven year sentences for firearms offences.

These will run concurrently alongside his life sentence.

Speaking after the killer was jailed, Mr Javeed’s daughter Lilas said: ‘It’s been six years and nine months since my father’s life was taken by Tahir Zarif. 

Akhtar Javeed, whose daughter described him as an ‘honourable gentleman’, was murdered by Zarif in the botched robbery

‘My father has been in our thoughts every day since. As I have said before my father was an honourable gentleman. 

‘Another man’s greed led to my father’s unlawful death. We are grateful to West Midlands Police for their hard work in ensuring justice is served.’

Detective Inspector Ranj Sangha said: ‘Despite most of the gang being jailed for this horrific crime back in 2016, we refused to rest until Zarif, who fired the fatal shots, was brought to justice.

‘We worked really closely with partners in this country and in Pakistan to get this result, and I hope Mr Akhtar’s family can get some sense of closure from today.’