A father who found his son dying on the street amid the rioting in Birmingham has warned the Asian and black communities to avoid becoming embroiled in race riots that have previously scarred the city.

Haroon Jahan, 21, was one of three young Pakistani men killed when a car ploughed into them as they were out trying to prevent their shops and properties from being looted.

After police arrested a black man allegedly driving the car, fears of racial tensions already simmering between the two communities threatened to explode with talk of retribution and revenge attacks.

However, Tariq Jahan, 45, appealed for calm. He said: “Tensions are already high in the area. I don’t want the community to fall out. The community doesn’t need this, and my family doesn’t need this.

“I want the law to take its course; let the law deal with it.

“We’ve seen enough without other people taking the law into their hands.”