Teen fled war-torn Syria for a greater life – solely to be murdered on UK road
Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim fled war-torn Syria for a better life, but his family have been left heartbroken after he was murdered in broad daylight in what should have been his safe haven
A teenage murder victim whose throat was slashed in broad daylight was a refugee who had fled war-torn Syria after being hurt in a bomb blast.
Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim, 16, suffered a single wound to the neck and died in hospital following the incident in Huddersfield, West Yorks., on Thursday (April 3).
The teenager, originally from war-torn Homs in Syria, had only recently moved to the town from South Wales to start a new life with his uncle. Alfie Franco, 20, appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday charged with murdering the teenager and possessing a knife in a public place.
Ahmad’s heartbroken family said the tragic teen had sought a new life in the UK because he “believed in the values of human rights, safety, and dignity” and dreamt of being a doctor.
In a tribute released by police, they said: “He was full of hope and dreamed of becoming a doctor — wanting to heal others after all he had endured.
“He had just begun settling into his new life with his uncle, adjusting to a new language, a new home, and a future he was excited to build.
“Ahmad was kind, gentle, and carried so much promise. Losing him has left an unimaginable emptiness in our hearts.
“We never thought that the place he saw as a safe haven would be where his life would end. Our only wish now is to lay him to rest in his homeland, Syria.”
Franco was arrested on Thursday and charged with murder. He appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (April 8) via video-link from prison and spoke only to confirm his name. He was not asked to enter a plea.
The court was told there appeared to have been a verbal altercation between Ahmad and Franco, but they were not known to each other and there was “no history of animosity”.
Franco, of Kirkburton, had strong links to South Africa, the court heard.
He was remanded in custody until his next appearance at the same court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 7 May. A trial date has been set for October 2.
Police said the incident, which happened in Ramsden Street just before 3pm on Thursday, was not gang-related or linked to any wider dispute between groups.
A man, 22, and a woman, 20, who had been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender had been released on bail, police said.
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