Yassar Yaqub aimed gun at firearms officer moments before he was shot dead, court hears

The officer referred to in court as 'Victor 39', whose identity is protected, believed his life was in danger because Yassar Yaqub was starting to point a gun at him, a court heard.

Leeds Crown Court heard the officer provided 'firearms cover' for themselves and their colleagues by pointing a firearm at the Audi, which had just been stopped on the M62 sliproad at Ainley Top.

The officer said they repeatedly identified themselves as armed and ordered the car's two occupants to put their hands up, which only the driver 'immediately' did.

In a statement made after the incident, they said:

"For the first time in all of the covert vehicle stops that I have conducted, the front seat passenger started to crouch down into the footwell... and lean towards the driver."
"Suddenly, I became aware of the male bringing his hands which were positioned closely together up over the dashboard.

"I immediately saw the top of a handgun. I was under no doubt that he was holding a handgun as he brought it up from the direction of the footwell.

The court previously heard a 'fully loaded' pistol was later found under Mr Yaqub's seat in the footwell of the car, as well as ammunition and a silencer.

The officer said they believed their life was in danger and that Mr Yaqub posed a 'lethal threat' to them.