Afghan refugee knifed to death on playing field

AN AFGHAN refugee was stabbed to death in front of schoolchildren on a rugby pitch as a teacher tried to save him, witnesses have said.

Hazrat Wali, who came to Britain two years ago, was attacked at about 4.45pm on Tuesday in Twickenham, south-west London.

The 18-year-old is the 25th teenager to have been killed in the capital this year, police said.

Witnesses said that a teacher from a nearby school rushed over to help Mr Wali and gave him CPR.

He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead about an hour later. His next of kin have been informed.

Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall said: “We are still working to establish the motive behind this tragic attack and are following a number of leads.”

A relative of Mr Wali told the Evening Standard: “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.”

Dr Jason Jones, principal of Richmond upon Thames College where the victim studied, said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family and friends at this difficult time.”