Street lights in the Bristol park where a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death yesterday evening had been ‘broken for months’, neighbours say.
The teenager was stabbed in Rawnsley Park at around 6pm by two masked assailants who fled on bicycles, leaving the boy to stagger to a nearby road where he died.
The killing comes weeks after the deaths of Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, who were also fatally stabbed in the city.
Now, angry residents are clamouring for better security measures amid fears more young lives will be lost to knife crime
Hamdi, 38, a local mother, says residents have been demanding the council take safety measures seriously at the park ‘for months’ – but ‘nothing has been done’.
Police and forensic offers at Rawnsley Park near to the scene in the St Philips area of Bristol where a 16-year-old boy has died
Police tent at Rawnsley Park marks the spot where the boy is believed to have been stabbed
The scene in Rawnsley Park, Bristol, where the 16-year-old was stabbed to death
A police cordon remains in place around the park, with a large police presence
She said: ‘We have been complaining for the council to fix the light and the CCTV in the park – but the CCTV camera that is supposed to be there, doesn’t even work.
‘It faces the buildings – not the parks. It doesn’t even work! So many times is has been said the light needs to be fixed.
‘At night, you would be scared going through that park as an adult. I run quicker through that park every day when I am coming home at night.
‘There are drug dealers sat on the bench, smoking god knows what… This is a horrible area for raising children, absolutely horrible – heartbreaking we are not being heard.’
Abdiaseez Osman, 29, said: ‘The fact is that there are no lights in this park – which means as soon as it begins to get dark, it’s pitch black.
‘You cannot see anything – so the people who did this get away with it because they hide in darkness.’
A formal identification of the boy killed yesterday has not yet taken place, but the victim’s family has been informed. A post-mortem examination is due to take place.
Bristol Commander, Supt Mark Runacres, said: ‘Tragically, we have lost another young life from our city in utterly horrific circumstances.
‘Our thoughts are with the victim’s family at what will be an unimaginably difficult time and officers will continue to support them.
‘We are committed to bringing those responsible to justice and we will be working tirelessly to that end.
‘While we are keeping an open mind, there is no clear evidence to suggest this is linked to other recent incidents in the city.’
The A420 was closed between West Street and the Lawrence Hill roundabout to allow crime scene investigators to examine the scene but has since reopened overnight. A cordon remains in place in Rawnsley Park.
After being stabbed in Rawnsley Park, the boy ran to Stapleton Road where a passing motorist helped him – before he collapsed in West Street
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees spoke of the ‘tragic news’ the city was waking up to this morning.
He said: ‘I can’t begin to imagine what the victims’ family are experiencing, my thoughts are with them. This needs to stop. We will make every effort to support the family, the police and local community at this time.’
Locals have today described their horror at the latest Bristol stabbing.
Shaif Shahbaaz, 26, said: ‘We just heard a lot of noise this morning, ambulance, police – all sorts.
‘Are police actually going to take action this time though? Or just leave it and not solve it. I never see the seriousness of the police in this country.’
Speaking from the scene, Moore Ibraheem, 56, of St. Paul’s, who has six children, said: ‘This is very sad, especially for the kids.
‘I feel incredibly sad – one of my boys is 19, I had to call him and tell him to check the news and read about this, because they are of such similar age.
‘It’s very shocking and I really worry for my sons’.
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees spoke of the ‘tragic news’ the city was waking up to this morning
The teenager was attacked in Rawnsley Park in Bristol by two people wearing masks who fled on bicycles
A forensic tent has been set up at the scene of yesterday’s stabbing
Mo Buckley, another local who was at the scene today after visiting her boyfriend last night – who lives in the flats opposite the park.
Mo, 37, who lives in Knowle West, said: ‘It’s so scary, it’s everywhere – you don’t know where you are safe.
‘I usually cut through the park to get here and now I’m terrified to even do that.
‘It’s so scary.
‘I want everyone to sign this petition which has been launched by Wayne Webster – his kid was friends with the two boys who died a couple weeks ago after being stabbed in Knowle West.
‘We are at four and a half thousand signatures and we need 10k to get it to parliament – it is calling on parents to check their kid’s bags and it will deter kids from committing these crimes.
‘Honestly we need more bleed kits in local shops, pubs, everywhere – if there had been a bleed kit nearer to this park that poor boy might not have died.
‘It was a very long way for him to be running.
‘It’s funny the government have cracked down on XL bully dogs – protecting our kids from dogs but not from knives and other dangerous people.
‘This is just getting closer and closer to home. We just took down the flowers we all put up for Max and Mason, and now this.
‘It’s horrible. Check your children’s bags and just do what you can – sign the petition.’
Anyone with information, can call 101 and give the reference 5224039827 to the call handler.
