Police say Hakim Sillah, who died in Uxbridge fight, was among young people at event
A teenager who was stabbed to death in a fight while attending a knife awareness coursehas been named as Hakim Sillah.
Scotland Yard said a group of young people were at the appointment-only event hosted by the council-run youth offending service at Hillingdon civic center in Uxbridge, west London, on Thursday afternoon.
Officers were called shortly after 4. 40 pm to the scene, where Sillah, 18, was found with a stab wound. He was taken by ambulance to a west London hospital, where he died shortly before 5. 30 PM.
A 17 -year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder was being questioned by police on Friday afternoon.
Detectives praised a third teenager who was injured while trying to break up the fight.
DCI Noel McHugh, who is leading the murder investigation for the Metropolitan police, said the incident was “an absolute tragedy”.
“A young man with his whole life ahead of him has been fatally attacked and his family are absolutely devastated,” he said.
“We are doing everything we can to find those involved. What we know so far is that a fight broke out between males at the location and as a result, this young man received fatal injuries.
“A second independent male bravely tried to intervene to break up the fight and as a result was also stabbed.”
He said he had spoken to the victim’s family on Thursday night and described them as “absolutely broken”.
Earlier on Friday morning, Boris Johnson, who is campaigning to be re-elected for the constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, tweeted: “Very sad news from Uxbridge last night. My thoughts are with the victims friends & family. ”
Asked for details of the event and whether people were screened before entering the building, Hillingdon council said: “The matter is being investigated by the police and we are unable to comment further at this time. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family. ”
McHugh appealed for anyone who may have captured footage of the incident or events before and after it to share it with police.
“We’ve made an arrest and we are not looking for anyone else at this time, but equally we need witnesses to come forward or people who hold information,” he said.
The teenager who tried to intervene in the fight had since been discharged from hospital, police said.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to call police on 0208 785 8099, tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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