Student, 18, stabbed to death on school field was refugee
AN AFGHAN refugee has been stabbed to death in front of horrified children on a school playing field.
Hazrat Wali, 18, was knifed during a fight next to a group of youngsters playing rugby.
A teacher who was leading the rugby match rushed to give the wounded teenager CPR after the attack at 4.45pm on Tuesday, but Harzat was pronounced dead at hospital about an hour later.
He lived alone in London after leaving Afghanistan two years ago, relatives said last night.
Witnesses to the tragedy in Twickenham, south-west London, said Hazrat was attacked in a fight on a footbridge before staggering on to the playing fields close to the Stoop, the home of the Harlequins rugby team.
The PE teacher at Richmond Upon Thames School tried to shield his terrified 12 and 13-year-old rugby players from the violence before giving Hazrat, a student at the neighbouring Richmond Upon Thames College, first aid.
One woman said her 13-year-old son saw
‘The next thing, all hell let loose’
Hazrat fall as the teacher ushered his pupils away and ran to chase away the attackers. ‘The teacher went over, the boys scarpered and the poor boy dropped to the ground,’ she said.
Another witness added: ‘There was a teacher in a rugby kit, he was trying to save the boy. He was a real hero, it was a terrible scene.
‘Five minutes before the incident, a group of very noisy kids came along were heading to the field. The next thing we knew all hell let loose.’
A third witness, said: ‘There were about a dozen students being noisy and boisterous. I thought they were just messing about. It was only when I went back later and saw nine police cars that I realised what had happened.’
One family member, from Stanmore, north-west London, said: ‘Hazrat was a very good boy. He came here to study, he was living all on his own in London. His immediate family are all back in Afghanistan. He had a fight is all that I’ve heard.’
A close friend, Sahil Kochay, described Hazrat as a ‘very caring’ person. He added: ‘He didn’t hold any hate towards anybody. He used to stand up for everyone. He wasn’t the kind of guy to fight,’ he said.
Scotland Yard said Mr Wali’s relatives were being supported by officers. A cordon remained on the playing field last night and cards and flowers were left on the gate. No arrests have been made.
Richmond Upon Thames College remained closed yesterday.