Youth stabbed to death by car stunt performer

Manama 

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llegal car stunts caused the death of a youth and a teenager was arrested for his murder on Monday. However, the victim was not killed in the car accident, but he was stabbed in the chest, which eventually led to his death. 

Late on Monday night, while residents in Dar Kulaib village (Roundabout 22, Hamad Town) celebrated a religious occasion (Nasfa), the victim, identified as Hussain Al Asfoor, 21, was a member of the organisers. The organisers  were ensuring a smooth traffic flow in the area and no violations were committed by the attendees.

According to a resident of Dar Kulaib, the alleged killer, Mohammed Fawzi, 19, was performing car stunts in the area, Al Asfoor approached him. “He asked him to immediately discontinue the dangerous stunts he was carrying on, as he posed threat to a large number of kids and families who were walking around the area,” the source said.  

Meanwhile, the accused was offended by Al Asfoor’s remarks and furiously got off his vehicle. “He threw him on the hood of the car and stabbed him twice- first in the leg and secondly right through his heart,” the source added. “The killer fled the spot leaving his vehicle behind after the murder.”

A video circulated online showed some irate people, who were present at the scene, damaging the perpetrator’s vehicle. The victim was taken to Kanoo Health Centre in Hamad Town, where he was pronounced dead later.

 Arrested

Confirming the arrest of Fawzi, Public Prosecution yesterday announced that it had interrogated the suspect and detained him pending further investigations.

Northern Governorate Chief Prosecutor Abdulla Al Thawadi said: “The prosecution was notified about the incident by Southern Hamad Town police station on Monday night. The prosecution moved to the spot, inspected the crime scene and examined the victim’s body in the health centre.”

According to Al Thawadi, the suspect confessed that he stabbed the victim once. “He said he was in the area where car stunts were performed. He claimed that he inadvertently hit the victim’s hand and the victim and others followed him and attacked him. He confessed that he took a knife he usually kept in his car, stabbed the victim once and fled the area,” the officer said in a press statement issued here yesterday.

The prosecutor confirmed that the prosecution charged the suspect with premeditated murder. 

Commenting on the incident, Parliamentarian in Hamad Town Dr. Isa Turki called for a bigger role to be played by Interior Ministry during such occasions, proposing to assign community policemen at the venues of public celebrations to ensure peace and order.

Dr. Turki also advised the organisers to raise more awareness among attendees to abandon such unwanted behaviours during celebrations, such as car stunts or other manners, considering the religious value of the occasions and the family atmosphere that accompanies it.

The MP added, “Hamad Town is an example of coexistence, cohesion and diversity in the Kingdom, as it embraces citizens of different religious, sectarian and racial backgrounds. Such occurrences should not be exploited for political or sectarian purposes. It’s a criminal act that is committed by a person, who will be brought to justice.”

Northern Municipal Council Chairman Mohammed Buhumood, who is also a Hamad Town resident commented: “Community police should definitely be present at such public occasions. Organisers should also be chosen carefully. They should be from the wise elite of the area, so people would actually listen to their instructions.”

He called upon celebrators to respect religious occasions and avoid tensions to ensure the safety of the people and preserve the value of the occasion. “It’s a celebration for joy. Let’s not make it a sad memory,” he added.