Boy, 8, killed as motorbike ploughs into pedestrians he walked to mosque with family
An eight-year-old boy who died after being hit by a motorbike has been described as a “bubbly boy and everybody loved him”.
Named locally as Mustafa Mohammed Ahmed, he is understood to have been crossing the road with his family to go pray at Greenwich Islamic Centre when the incident occurred.
Dad Mohammed Mow Ahmed, who was holding Mustafa’s hand, is said to be in a critical condition.
Older brother Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, 10, was also hospitalised, as was the motorbike driver.
Family friend Mustafa Zachariah came down to the scene around five minutes after the crash.
“You don’t expect it,” he told the Mirror. “People said the bike was driving at high speed. He was a bubbly boy and everybody loved him.”
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Jamie Lashmar / Story Picture Agency)
Mr Zachariah, who held back tears, said Mustafa loved football.
Dad Mr Ahmed is a bus driver and the family live in the Thamesmead area. They are originally from Somalia.
Mosque deputy imam Sayed Kafil Ahmed said Mustafa was “a very quiet boy” but an exemplary student and “everybody knew him”.
He was at the mosque for a lecture with his dad on Saturday.
Mr Ahmed, who is also the funeral director and will likely be in charge of the burial, said: “He was the only child who would sit down and listen to the lectures. All the others are running around.
“The children don’t have any patience because any religious lesson is boring for them, they would rather be on their phone.
“I remember he would be sat quietly by the pillar listening.”
Describing the incident yesterday, he said he was just finishing a prayer session and someone rushed inside to tell the congregation what had happened.
Mr Ahmed said: “They ran back outside and it was a mess out here. There was police and ambulance and the road was all blocked off. The car was in the middle of the road.”
The head of governance at the mosque, who did not wish to be named, said the family regularly attended and were on their way to the 7.30pm Sunday prayer session.
He said members of the congregation rushed to help at the scene.
He understands the vehicle involved was a super bike and the driver and the pedestrians were thrown into the air on impact.
The driver allegedly ran a red light and his bike hit a car which remains damaged at the scene.
“They were crossing the road about five minutes before prayers,” he said.
“A motorbike came at extreme speed and hit the kids.
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Jamie Lashmar / Story Picture Agency)
“They went two or three feet into the sky.
“The congregation rushed to help.
“They were a well known family to the congregation. It’s so sad, especially with it being kids.
“Two years ago one of our teachers got hit at the same crossing and broke her leg.”
He described Ahmed as having suffered cuts and bruises.
Abdullahi Osman, 53, a security guard and member of the mosque congregation, said the family had recently lost three relatives to Covid.
Metropolitan Police said officers, London Ambulance Service and the air ambulance all attended the scene.
In a statement last night, police said: “Police were called at approximately 19:30hrs on Sunday, 19 February to reports of a motorcycle in collision with a group of pedestrians in Plumstead Road, near the junction with Lenton Street, SE18.
“Four people – a motorcycle rider and three pedestrians – were involved. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services one of the pedestrians – a male (no further details) died at the scene. The other three people have been taken to hospital for treatment; condition awaits.
“A large amount of road closures remain in place and enquiries into the circumstances continue.
“Anyone with information at this early stage that could assist police is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD 6036/19Feb.”