Foreign student murdered in "racist" attack (From The Argus)

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Foreign student murdered in "racist" attack

2:11pm Monday 25th August 2008 in News By Emily-Ann Elliott

Mohammed al-Majed

A 16-year-old foreign student was killed by a mob of drunken thugs in a sickening racist attack.

Mohammed al-Majed, from Qatar, in the Middle East, was beaten and stamped on by a gang outside a kebab shop.

The teenager, a student at the EF International School of English in Hastings, died late on Sunday night from a serious head injury.

Mohammed, who was described by friends as “like a brother to everyone”, is believed to be the son of a wealthy family in the oil-rich Gulf state.

He and a group of friends were set upon – apparently for looking and sounding different – near the junction of Robertson Street and the A259 seafront road.

Friends said they were beaten, kicked and pelted with glass bottles by the mob, who stamped repeatedly on Mohammed’s head before leaving him for dead and launching further assaults on his terrified pals.

Sussex Police said they are treating the death as murder and are investigating it as “racially motivated”.

Officers said there was a dispute between two groups of youths outside The USA Fried Chicken and Kebab House on Friday night.

The takeaway was used as a hangout by foreign students as it has a large licensed bar area with pool tables, arcade machines and couches.

Remzi Tanriverdi, 43, the kebab shop owner, said trouble started after a pair of well-known troublemakers started drinking lager at the picnic benches outside.

They were joined by two more youths and two girls, all of whom were drinking beer and alcopops.

Dr Tanriverdi, a doctor of political science with two degrees who moved to England from Turkey five years ago, asked them to leave but they refused and hurled abuse at him.

The former National Project Co-ordinator for the UN in Turkey said: “As soon as I saw them, I knew those boys would cause trouble. Whenever they turn up, trouble soon follows.

“After I asked them to leave, I noticed a police car pull up outside, so I went over and spoke to the officers.

“I asked them to keep an eye on the boys, and they said they would – then left.

“Less than an hour later, Mohammed – who was like a brother to everyone here – had been beaten to death by those boys.

“It’s so sad, there are no words that can describe the horror of what happened – and for nothing. The attack was completely unprovoked and without reason.”

Mohammed’s room-mate, Abdul Aziz, 17, said: “We are all deeply shocked at what’s happened. Mohammed was everyone’s friend.

“We cannot believe something like this could happen. We will never come back here.”

Another friend, who asked not to be named, suffered severe bruising and a head injury needing six stitches.

He said: “It’s like a nightmare. I am in total shock. I can’t even bear to think about it.

“I blame myself for not saving Mohammed, but where I come from, we are not used to this kind of thing happening. At home, we never need to defend ourselves like that.”

Three men aged 17, 18 and 20 were arrested and interviewed and released on police bail following the attack.

Dr Tanriverdi says he has been attacked more than 25 times since buying the shop in 2005. He said: “Something must be done to stop these mindless thugs from destroying Britain, as they are doing.”

Detective Chief Inspector Graham Pratt, said: “The young man was a visitor to Hastings and his death is indeed tragic. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Leader of Hastings Borough Council, Peter Pragnell, said: “Anything we can do to help the police, we will of course do and we will continue trying to make Hastings as safe a place as possible.”

Did you know the teenager? Leave your tributes below.

Comments(21)

wolf says...
2:24pm Mon 25 Aug 08

Binge drinking delinquent thugs,this lad was only 16.
Send them to Qatar to be punished !