The mother of the first teenager to be stabbed to death in the capital this year called for a crackdown on knife possession today, as she paid tribute to her “bright and beautiful” son.
Basel Muradi, 19, was knifed in the stomach in an incident at a Marylebone flat last Monday. Paramedics fought to save his life but the student was pronounced dead just after 2pm.
His mother Shadia, 50, said he had been due to start a business management course one week after he died.
Speaking at the family home in the Baker Street area, she said: “He was looking forward to starting college and wanted to be a businessman like his father. He was a very good student and a lovely boy.
“Whenever he came into the house he would spread joy, he lit up the room. He was always smiling and joking. He was a beautiful and wonderful son.”
The family, who are Kurdish, moved to London a decade ago in search of a better life and to join family already in the capital. Basel’s mother said: “We came here to be with family and thought London was safe. Over the past years we have seen more violence on the streets and things are getting worse.
“More needs to be done to stop young people getting knives. It is far too easy to possess one and costs lives.”
His father Omar, 50, said that his son was a “good boy” and that the family were devastated by the loss. He added: “We cannot believe what’s happened. We came to London to be with family and now this — we cannot understand what happened.”
The talented footballer, who supported Manchester City, went to Paddington Academy and City and Islington College before enrolling to study oil and gas management at Greenwich School of Management.
His brother Abdullah, 15, said: “He circled his college starting date on his calendar and when I saw it I was very upset. He was so good to me, he looked after me and gave me advice. It is like I have lost one half of me.” Older brother Hilal was celebrating his 21st birthday on the day of the tragedy.
Basel was at a friend’s house when the incident took place, the family said. To stop potential reprisals, police issued a section 60 order to allow officers to carry out random stop-and-searches in the area around Lilestone Street, where the killing happened.
At Westminster magistrates’ court last week, Yusef Al-Jaaf, 19, of Pimlico, was charged with murder and remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey next week. A man aged 35 who was arrested has been released without charge.
Last year 12 teenagers were murdered in the capital.
