MOHAMMED RIAZ ACCRINGTON HORROR: FATHER KILLS FAMILY OVER WESTERNISATION IN SHOCKING TRAGEDY
| Red Rose Database
Accrington Sexual Abuser
In a devastating incident that has shocked the community of Accrington, Lancashire, a man named Mohammed Riaz, aged 49, carried out a brutal attack on his own family, resulting in the deaths of his wife and four daughters. The tragic events unfolded on Halloween night last year, leaving a trail of grief and unanswered questions in their wake.
According to an inquest held to investigate the circumstances, Riaz was driven by deep-seated objections to his family adopting a more Western lifestyle. It was revealed that he found it intolerable that his eldest daughter aspired to become a fashion designer, a career path that symbolized her desire for independence and self-expression. Furthermore, he was distressed by the fact that his daughters were increasingly rejecting traditional Muslim customs, including the practice of arranged marriages, which he held dear.
The night of the attack saw Riaz spray petrol throughout their terraced home in Accrington and set it ablaze. The flames quickly engulfed the residence, trapping his wife Caneze Riaz, aged 39, and their children. Caneze awoke during the chaos and desperately tried to shield her three-year-old daughter, Hannah, who was sleeping beside her. Tragically, she was overcome by toxic fumes and succumbed to the smoke. Meanwhile, the other daughters—Sayrah, aged 16, Sophia, aged 13, and Alisha, aged 10—were found dead in different parts of the house, victims of the inferno.
Riaz, who had been drinking heavily that evening, did not survive the incident himself. He set fire to his own body and died two days later in the hospital. The tragedy extended beyond the immediate family, as relatives informed their son, Adam, aged 17, who was battling terminal cancer at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, about the devastating loss. Sadly, Adam passed away six weeks after learning of his family’s fate.
The coroner, Michael Singleton, recorded verdicts confirming that Riaz had taken his own life and that the deaths of his wife and daughters were unlawful killings. The investigation highlighted the profound cultural and emotional tensions that underpinned this tragic event.
It was also revealed that Riaz had spent most of his life in the North West Frontier region of Pakistan before moving to the UK. He met his wife through her father, who had sent her to Pakistan to find a suitable husband. Following their arranged marriage, she built a career as a community leader in Accrington, advocating for women and challenging traditional cultural restrictions. Riaz, who struggled with English and held low-paid jobs, was described as a man overwhelmed by cultural conflicts and personal frustrations.
After her father’s death, Caneze Riaz reportedly felt less bound by her husband's strict views. A family friend explained that she began to develop her own social circle and allowed her daughters more freedom to express themselves in ways that diverged from their cultural expectations. She became involved with women who felt oppressed by Asian cultural norms, earning respect as a role model for young Asian women seeking independence and self-empowerment.
According to an inquest held to investigate the circumstances, Riaz was driven by deep-seated objections to his family adopting a more Western lifestyle. It was revealed that he found it intolerable that his eldest daughter aspired to become a fashion designer, a career path that symbolized her desire for independence and self-expression. Furthermore, he was distressed by the fact that his daughters were increasingly rejecting traditional Muslim customs, including the practice of arranged marriages, which he held dear.
The night of the attack saw Riaz spray petrol throughout their terraced home in Accrington and set it ablaze. The flames quickly engulfed the residence, trapping his wife Caneze Riaz, aged 39, and their children. Caneze awoke during the chaos and desperately tried to shield her three-year-old daughter, Hannah, who was sleeping beside her. Tragically, she was overcome by toxic fumes and succumbed to the smoke. Meanwhile, the other daughters—Sayrah, aged 16, Sophia, aged 13, and Alisha, aged 10—were found dead in different parts of the house, victims of the inferno.
Riaz, who had been drinking heavily that evening, did not survive the incident himself. He set fire to his own body and died two days later in the hospital. The tragedy extended beyond the immediate family, as relatives informed their son, Adam, aged 17, who was battling terminal cancer at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, about the devastating loss. Sadly, Adam passed away six weeks after learning of his family’s fate.
The coroner, Michael Singleton, recorded verdicts confirming that Riaz had taken his own life and that the deaths of his wife and daughters were unlawful killings. The investigation highlighted the profound cultural and emotional tensions that underpinned this tragic event.
It was also revealed that Riaz had spent most of his life in the North West Frontier region of Pakistan before moving to the UK. He met his wife through her father, who had sent her to Pakistan to find a suitable husband. Following their arranged marriage, she built a career as a community leader in Accrington, advocating for women and challenging traditional cultural restrictions. Riaz, who struggled with English and held low-paid jobs, was described as a man overwhelmed by cultural conflicts and personal frustrations.
After her father’s death, Caneze Riaz reportedly felt less bound by her husband's strict views. A family friend explained that she began to develop her own social circle and allowed her daughters more freedom to express themselves in ways that diverged from their cultural expectations. She became involved with women who felt oppressed by Asian cultural norms, earning respect as a role model for young Asian women seeking independence and self-empowerment.