An 11-year-old boy's family fear he was being bullied in the lead up to his death after he was found unresponsive in his bedroom three weeks into his first term at secondary school.
Tributes have been paid to Year 7 pupil Asad Khan, who died shortly after being taken to hospital from his home in Bradford on Wednesday evening. Pupils and staff at his school are said to be 'united in grief' over the tragedy.
]Simon Wade, headteacher of Beckfoot Upper Heaton School, in West Yorkshire, said Asad had only been a pupil at the school for three weeks.
A statement posted to its website said: 'It is with great sadness that we learnt last night of the death of Asad Khan one of the school's newest students.
'The school is united in its grief at this sad time.
'The school community is working together as students, parents and staff come to terms with these events. All our thoughts are with Asad's family at this terribly difficult time.'
Mr Wade added: 'The school is aware of speculation about the circumstances surrounding Asad's death. In Asad's first three weeks at school he made a great impression on all who met him.
'He was doing well in lessons, scoring high marks for his attitude to learning and his positive approach to school life and the school was looking forward to a bright future for him.'
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that inquiries were continuing but that Asad's death was not thought to be suspicious.
A man who said he was Asad's cousin, but did not wish to be named, said the 11-year-old had been bullied.
He added: 'He was always full of energy he loved his science, he used to make little lights and play around with circuits.
'As a person he was just like any other 11-year-old kid - full of life and was ready for school.'
Ishtiaq Ahmed, a former local councillor for Manningham, took to Facebook to express his condolences to the family.
He said: 'My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family of an 11 year old boy from Manningham who committed suicide earlier today.
'He was reportedly being bullied at school, his mother found him hanged in his bedroom. I can't begin to imagine what his family must be going through.'
According to neighbours on Asad's street he lived with his parents and three other siblings. Shabnam Rani, 34, the best friend of Asad's aunt, said : 'I heard he had come back from school and his mum told him to go and get changed, so he went upstairs and his mum is waiting for him and he hasn't come downstairs.
'So his mum has gone upstairs and the door was locked, he wouldn't answer so she broke the door and saw him.
'Yesterday people are saying he got bullied at school but I was asking the relatives did he mention that to his mum that has been bullied, and they said no we're just thinking that because it happened straight away after school.
'We just don't know what happened, maybe he's watched some sort of drama or something and seen that type of thing.'
She added: 'It is such a shock, really, really sad, I feel so sad for the family.'
Singer Maz Bonafide also posted about the boy on his official page and said: 'This is so heart breaking. A young 11yr old student from Bradford committed suicide.
'This incident occurred today, the young child spoke to his mother and told her he didn't like school as he was being picked on etc.
'His mother went to the bathroom and when she came out, she called him possibly to continue the discussion but he didn't answer. She went to his room and door was locked, so she panicked and eventually got in to find him hanging. #ripasad (sic).'
-MailOnline
