Man killed ‘on way home from mosque’
A MAN was stabbed to death in the street as he reportedly made his way home after attending prayers at a mosque.
The man, in his 20s, was knifed in broad daylight, police said. He suffered multiple wounds on Waterloo Street in Oldham, yesterday afternoon.
The man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead, leaving the area’s close-knit community in shock.
Residents said the man, who has not been named, had been walking home after getting food following worship at the Jalalabad Jamay Masjid.
It is believed he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time during the aftermath of a disturbance in which men in a car were seen chasing others on foot. It is thought a passerby, who had first aid training, stopped to help the victim until paramedics arrived. No arrests have been made.
GMP said the man’s loved ones were being supported by specially-trained officers.
Laura Mongan, 21, who lives near the scene, said: “Everyone gets on with everyone around here. It is a shock, you wouldn’t think anything like this would happen.”
Police have appealed for witnesses to the attack, which happened at 3.20pm.
The cordon around the scene remained in place late last night.
Extra officers were seen patrolling the area and forensic teams worked under floodlights to comb the street for clues.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said of the victim: “You would see him playing football with his friends. I kept asking people the same question, hoping to get a different answer, but I kept getting told the same thing – that he had died.”
Det Supt Nicky Porter said: “My heart goes out to the man’s family who have sadly had to be informed that their loved one has died. As the investigation develops, we hope to be able to provide further details but as this only happened recently, we’re yet to gain a full picture of what exactly has happened and ask the public to come forward with any information.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference number 1293 of March 9.