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Amro Elbadawi |
YET ANOTHER KNIFE DEATH
Community in shock at teen killing hits out at ‘Bronx’ comparison
THE Queen’s Park community say they are stunned by the death of a 14-year-old Paddington Academy pupil.
Amro Elbadawi, who lived on the Mozart estate, was stabbed in Dart Street on his way home from the school last Friday.
A close friend of the 14-year-old later handed himself in to detectives voluntarily.
“They were like brothers,” said a former teacher of the two friends.
Friends, family and community leaders this week hit out at “inflammatory” news reports linking north Westminster with the American gang-heartland The Bronx and claiming teenagers in the area were “out of control”.
The anger brewing in the community is not between rival gangs but at the misrepresentation of life in north Westminster.
The Labour MP Karen Buck, who has a son at the secondary school, said: “There is real anger in the community about the way the area and the school is being portrayed as some kind of gangland.
"Paddington is a tough inner-city school. It is not the caricature of The Bronx.”
Noreen O’Neill, chairperson of the Queen’s Park Safer Neighbourhoods panel, said: “Queen’s Park is not an unsafe area or rife with gang crime, it is an area that has a lot of community spirit and has achieved a lot especially over the last couple of years.”
The stabbing is a chilling reminder of the death of 17-year-old Jevon Henry, in January last year.
Ms Buck told the West End Extra: “It is an appalling tragedy – to lose a child is unbearable. Part of the solution is stop and search and tougher sentences. But the big issue is to look at the root of the aggression. There needs to be more outreach youth services and better access and awareness of youth clubs.”
Sharon Cohen, head of youth services at Westminster Council, said: “The sad reality is that if you carry a knife there is the real danger that the pettiest of teenage disputes can all too quickly turn into a tragedy.”
A 16-year-old from Queen’s Park has been accused of the murder of Amro after handing himself in at Paddington Green police station.
Det Supt Colin Lee said: “If anyone has any information I would urge them to contact the incident room of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command on 020 8785 8244.” Alternatively, call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 to give information anonymously. |
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