Saturday, February 21, 2009

Somali community in fear after fatal stabbing in Wealdstone

THE friend of a 20-year-old student murdered in Wealdstone fears he was “killed for being Somalian”.

Hassan Kul Hawadleh, of West Hendon, was knifed by what is believed to be an Afghan gang after stopping to fill up at a Total garage, in High Street, Wealdstone, at around 7.30pm last night.

But a witness saw a group of Afghan youths in bandanas searching for victims in the area yesterday afternoon, before the attack.

Abdul Hassan, 22, one of Hassan's friend, said: “They didn't know Hassan, they were just targeting any Somali.

“Yesterday afternoon before Hassan got stabbed two of my other friends got run up to by guys in bandanas, who were Afghan and black.

“Four of them ran from behind and two from in front but then just said 'it's not them' before running off. These must be the same guys.”

He said Hassan was with a friend, Abdulwahid, when they were attacked by the group.

He said: “Everyone loved the guy. He was just a happy guy and not the sort to be involved in trouble or gangs.

“There's no reason why people would target him – he was just killed for being Somalian.”

This is the second attack on Somalian youths in as many days, with an 16-year-old boy being knifed in the buttocks with a box cutter outside a mini-market on Wednesday.

Source: Harrow Times

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