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A murder investigation has been launched after an 18-year-old teenager, Zeshan Afzal, was stabbed to death outside a mosque in Smethwick, West Midlands, United Kingdom.
Police said officers responded to reports of disorder outside the Jamia Masjid on Oldbury Road at about 9pm on Friday. On arrival, they found the teenager with serious injuries. He later died.
Two other men, aged 19 and 22, were also injured and taken to hospital. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Video footage from the scene showed ambulances and police vehicles arriving with flashing lights as emergency services rushed to the area.
The attack happened as worshippers were leaving the mosque after Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. Witnesses described the scene as “horrible”.
Syed Ahmad, 48, said: “I came here at 7.40pm for Isha Namaz, for one and a half hours. I came out at 9.20pm and there was police and ambulances.
“On the corner there was police and doctors. It was horrible. People were crying – just young guys.”
A 52-year-old witness said police instructed worshippers to return inside the mosque while officers sealed off the area.
“We were very panicked, we were shocked. I walked home last night,” he told local media.
On Saturday, worshippers returned to retrieve their vehicles as officers continued investigations. Police erected a tent in the mosque’s car park while forensic teams examined the scene.
Detectives were working to obtain CCTV footage from nearby businesses, including a Texaco fuel station, a gym and an industrial estate.
No arrests had been made as of Saturday. West Midlands Police urged anyone with information, including mobile phone or dashcam footage, to come forward.
“We understand how deeply distressing and concerning this incident is, and we will have extra officers in the area over the coming days to offer reassurance to the community,” the force said.
Police added that the incident was not being treated as religiously or racially motivated. (Nigerian Tribune, but headline reworked )
• PHOTO: Police investigators work outside the mosque area where the teenager is believed to have been stabbed
