Brighton stabbing: Man arrested after brother of two Syria fighters knifed to death

Katy Clifton17 February 2019
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The brother of two British teenagers killed fighting for Islamists in Syria has been stabbed to death in Brighton.

Police launched a murder investigation after Abdul Deghayes was found with serious stab wounds in the passenger seat of a silver Volkswagen Polo which had crashed at around 9.30pm on Saturday.

The 22-year-old was rushed to hospital, where he died of his injuries on Sunday morning.

Sussex Police arrested a man on Sunday afternoon, and is still looking to trace other people who may have been involved.

Chief Inspector Andy Bennett said officers are now “trying to establish the exact circumstances of what has led to this young man's tragic death”.

Abdul Deghayes has died in hospital after being stabbed
PA

He added: "We are aware that the car was in collision with other vehicles shortly before he was found to have suffered these injuries, which we are satisfied were caused maliciously and not as a result of the collision.

"The scene is close to the junction with Lewes Road, near to The Level, and at that time of the evening would have been very busy.

Police tape surrounds a silver Volkswagen Polo where Abdul Deghayes was found injured
PA

"We would like to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time who may have witnessed the collision or who may have seen something that they may now regard as suspicious in the time leading up to it.”

Police tape at a crime scene near St Joseph's Church in Brighton
PA

Abdul - who served a jail sentence 2017 for drug dealing - is the twin brother of Abdullah who was killed fighting in Syria in 2016 aged 18.

Their younger brother Jaffar, 17, was killed in 2014 while trying to overthrow Bashar Al-Assad's government.

Police tape surrounds a silver Volkswagen Polo near St Joseph's Church
PA

Speaking after Abdul's death on Sunday, his father Abubaker Deghayes said: "As a family we are in mourning. It is a great shock.

"Adul was very popular with his friends. He loved Brighton a lot. He was a cheerful guy. We just know he was found in a car, there was a lot of blood and he was brought to hospital.

"They tried to keep him alive and he died in the morning. I don't know exactly what happened. We are still waiting for more information.

"I can't even think of who would take such a step to do this to Adbul."

Forensics officers at the scene where Abdul Deghayes was found injured
PA

At the time of Jaffar's death in 2014, Abubaker said his grief "cannot be described" as he claimed the Government was "criminalising" young Britons who have travelled to the war-torn country.

Mr Deghayes urged the government to rethink its approach to fighters wanting to return back to the UK.

In a direct message to former Prime Minister David Cameron aired on ITV, he said: "The strategy you are using with our sons does not work. You are criminalising them just out of the fear they might become a threat to this country.

"Do not push them to be radicalised, used by groups like Isis who are out for revenge and thirst for blood."

A serious case review published in 2017 found professionals missed opportunities to prevent the two teenage British Muslims being radicalised before they were killed after travelling to fight in Syria.

There was "no recognition" that Abdullah, Jaffar and their three siblings were becoming vulnerable to radicalisation in Brighton, the report said.

There was also little understanding of the part religion played in the lives of Abdullah and Jaffar, who were believed to have been with the al Qaida-affiliated Al-Nusra Front when they died, the review added.

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