Exclusive police bodycam footage has revealed the heart-wrenching moment a mother collapsed in anguish upon learning her teenage son had been fatally stabbed following a fight after college.
A Mother's Unimaginable Grief
The newly released video from September 2023 shows Fiona Namusoke arriving at the scene in Luton, Bedfordshire, after receiving a call that her 16-year-old son, Ashraf Habimana, had been knifed. Ms Namusoke had been on her way to collect Ashraf from college when she got the devastating news.
In the distressing footage, an inconsolable Ms Namusoke falls to the ground, screaming at police officers: 'I need to see him.' An officer is heard attempting to comfort and lift her, saying: 'I know, just let them, they need to do their job lovely.'
Ashraf, who aspired to a career in cyber security, had texted his mother after school finished, writing: 'Mum, can you come and pick me up now?' Ms Namusoke told him she would be there soon, but just seven minutes later received the call informing her he had been stabbed.
The Fatal Attack and Police Investigation
Ashraf was with friends in a car park on 29 September 2023 at around 7pm when two groups of teenagers clashed. He was not involved in an initial fight that had broken out hours earlier, but became caught up in the violence which escalated over social media.
During the clashes, Ashraf was assaulted by Althaf Hussaindeen before being stabbed in the back three times by Althaf's twin brother, Athif Hussaindeen. In the bodycam footage, an officer is heard stating: 'There's one stab victim there and there's another one over there.'
Ashraf was taken to hospital but died a short time later. Athif Hussaindeen also stabbed another 16-year-old during the incident, who survived the attack.
Sentencing and Documentary Focus
Seven teenagers were later sentenced in connection with the incident. Athif Hussaindeen, then 18, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, violent disorder and possession of a bladed article. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years.
His twin, Althaf Hussaindeen, was convicted of manslaughter and violent disorder, receiving a seven-year sentence. Five others, including Timone Crossman, Safwan Kashim, Hasan Ayaz and two 16-year-olds, were sentenced for offences including violent disorder and possession of bladed articles.
The police bodycam clip was shared exclusively with the Daily Mail by Channel 4 ahead of a new episode of '24 Hours In Police Custody' airing at 9pm tomorrow. The documentary focuses on murders involving zombie-style knives, which were banned in England and Wales in September 2024.
A witness in the programme, known as Shafaz, becomes tearful recalling the scene, stating: 'His mum turned up, that was probably the hardest bit. I think everybody around Ashraf had a gut reflex to keep mum away.' He described seeing one of the knives, noting it was a weapon, not a small knife, and expressed horror at the damage it would have caused.
The programme also features the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda in Wolverhampton in June 2022, which led to the creation of Ronan's Law, banning ninja swords.
Superintendent Alex House, Bedfordshire Police's knife crime lead, said: 'This documentary offers a powerful and unflinching insight into the devastating reality of knife crime. It shows just how dangerous and destructive zombie-style knives are.' He urged young people to surrender any weapons and seek support.
