Edgware Road murder: Stabbing victim ‘didn’t want to go to college’ on day he was killed

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A sixth-form student who was stabbed to death outside a KFC was afraid to go to college on the day of his murder because he feared for his safety, his family said today.

Youssef Karim Hasan Al-Bayjani, 17, was attacked by a gang as customers queued for food at the restaurant in Edgware Road at 1.54pm on Tuesday. CCTV footage shows Youssef being repeatedly stabbed in a brawl.

In the video, a young man appears to lunge at several hooded youths before being set upon on the pavement.

Youssef was studying business at nearby City of Westminster College.

Youssef Karim Hasan Al-Bayjani, 17

His cousin, 19, told the Standard: “It’s awful to think he might have still been alive if he hadn’t gone to college.

“He told his mum that he didn’t want to go, saying he wasn’t well and hadn’t had much sleep the night before.

“His mum doesn’t know what to do. She has been crying all day and hasn’t been able to eat or slept since.”

Forensic officers gather evidence outside the KFC shop
NIGEL HOWARD

Another relative said: “He told his mum before he went to college that he felt like he was going to die. She chalked it off as a bad dream and told him it was his last year and he was going to live for a very long time.

“But he knew how dangerous it was to even go to college.

“His mother is alive but she is dead on the inside. To raise a boy for 17 years and to have him taken away because people think they are gangsters, it’s just nonsense.”

NIGEL HOWARD ©

Youssef was the 21st teenager killed in London this year, 19 of them in stabbings, and the seventh since August 12.

His cousin said the teenager had hoped to run his own business one day. He said: “He was an amazing boy. We grew up together and he was a sweetheart. He was a mummy’s boy, but he looked after his brother and sister.”

A friend who left flowers at the scene yesterday said Youssef had protected her from a group of boys half an hour before he was attacked.

NIGEL HOWARD ©

Another friend wrote a tribute that said: “RIP my bro, can’t believe you’re gone, I only saw you yesterday. Prayers for your family.”

And a note with flowers left at the scene read: “From a teacher who knew your potential, rest in peace.”

Police said there had been no arrests and appealed for witnesses to the “appalling” attack to come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge, from the Specialist Crime Command, said: “We know that lots of people were in the area at the time and may well have seen what unfolded.”

Nickie Aiken, leader of Westminster city council, said: “A 17-year-old boy went out in the morning as normal and never came home. We have got to work together to stop families having to bury their young people.”

A 35-year-old woman arrested of suspicion of murdering anti-knife campaigner Sahkira Loseke, 22, has been released under investigation.

Ms Loseke, who had a six-year-old son, was attacked in Chalk Farm on Sunday night.

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