By Jack Royston »
Friday, February 20, 2009
Hassan Kul Hawadleh, 19, of West Hendon, was stabbed to death at the Total garage, in High Street, Wealdstone, at around 7.30pm last night.
Ahmed Mohamed, 23, who knew Hassan all his life, said: “He had his life ahead of him. The thing I remember is his smile. He had the most gorgeous smile. I remember him as a hero.”
Hassan, who was in his second year at the University of East London, and his friend Abdulwahid Guled, 18, were ambushed by a gang of youths after stopping to fill their car with petrol.
Abdulwahid was stabbed in the shoulder and the back of the leg and rushed to hospital where he is in a stable condition with family and friends, who have gone to be by his side.
Rumours quickly spread through the community that an Afghan gang was pursuing a vendetta against the Somali boys.
Police are urging residents not to be jump to conclusions, as they work to piece together the events that stole the life the 19-year-old who relatives say was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Ahmed said: “The guy who was killed last night was my best friend and the one who was injured was my cousin.
“Hassan had nothing to do with what was going on and just one stab in the heart killed him.”
Asha Khalib described Hassan, her nephew, as “bright”.
She said: “He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He wanted to be a reporter. He wanted to travel away and be a well known reporter.
“It's very unfortunate that his life has gone.”
The police are hunting someone in connection with the murder but so far have made no arrests.
Ms Khalib said: “They told me they will catch him because they know the guy. Hassan's future was in front of him and he wanted to do good things in the future. It's a tragic thing to happen.”
Anyone with information can contact police on 0300 123 1212, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Source: Harrow Times, Feb 20, 2009