Community left in shock after deaths of 3 children
NEIGHBOURS and friends have expressed their disbelief following the shocking events that took place in Bristol at the weekend that left three children dead.
The children, aged seven and under, were discovered at a property in Sea Mills in the early hours of Sunday.
A 42-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene and taken to hospital with injuries described as not life threatening. She remains in police custody.
Following the news neighbours and friends who knew the children, along with members of the Sudanese community, gathered near the scene yesterday.
They came from all over Bristol and beyond, and gathered in the garden of the Methodist Church around the corner from the three-bed home in Blaise Walk. The church opened its doors to allow friends to gather, and they began to arrive at around 10am.
It breaks my heart that he and his sister and little brother are no longer with us SALAWA BASHAR
Earlier, police issued a statement about the events of Saturday night, and confirmed the ages of the children who were killed – a seven yearold boy, a three-year-old girl and a nine-month-old boy. The three have been named in the community as Fares, the eldest, Joury, three, and the baby, Mohammed.
Neighbours and friends gave bouquets of flowers to police officers guarding the cordon that still stretched across Blaise Walk to lay in front of the house. The friends that gathered at the church spoke of how they were still trying to come to terms with the news.
“I have known this family for over six years,” said Salawa Bashar. “They are part of this community, they are family friends, we have been seeing each other, we have been visiting each other. They are a big part of our community,” she added.
While still in shock, Salawa’s eyes lit up as she remembered the eldest child, Fares. “He was a very smart, amazing, bubbly boy,” she said. “Very friendly. Very curious about everything. His attitude was like an adult’s attitude, he was an amazing boy,” she added. “I can’t believe he’s just gone, I don’t even want to believe it.
“He was no ordinary child, and I always believed he was going to become an extraordinary adult, doing extraordinary things,” she added.
“It breaks my heart that he and his sister and little brother are no longer with us. What has happened just seems unbelievable.
The eldest went to the local school, Sea Mills Primary, just around the corner from the church, and a short walk from their home. It, along with much of Sea Mills yesterday morning, was quiet.
The school chose to open at lunchtime, and to start the day with an allschool assembly to help teachers and children begin to try to come to terms with losing one of their friends and classmates so suddenly.
The news has shaken the Sudanese community in Bristol. They gathered quietly, talking in groups in the garden of the church, and inside, sharing information and stories.
“We sadly had this news, and I cannot believe this has happened to a family we know,” said a subdued Ahmed Abdelaal.
“I don’t know how this has happened, or why this has happened. To this day we don’t have that information, we’ve just come here.
“All of a sudden we are all shocked by this. We don’t really know why this happened or how this happened,” he added.