The tearful parents of a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in broad daylight yesterday have left a picture of him outside the pub in north Manchester where he was brutally attacked.
Schoolboy Ibrahima Seck begged for help from locals and pleaded ‘I don’t want to die’ before he collapsed in New Moston on Sunday evening.
He told passers-by ‘I’ve been stabbed’ and was rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Police said two boys aged 14 and 16 are under arrest on suspicion of murder and a girl, 14, and woman, 37, are being held on suspicion of assisting an offender.
A man who held Ibrahima when the bleeding teenager ran to his front door said: ‘It was just awful – the lad died in my arms.
‘He had tried two other houses but they wouldn’t do anything. At least we tried to help him. Just be thankful you don’t have to live around here, there’s too many gangs.’
Today Ibrahima’s heartbroken parents paid tribute to him as as ‘funny, caring and hardworking’.
The tearful parents of a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in broad daylight yesterday have left a picture of him outside the pub in north Manchester where he was brutally attacked
Schoolboy Ibrahima Seck begged for help from locals and pleaded ‘I don’t want to die’ before he collapsed in New Moston on Sunday evening
Ibrahima’s mother and father (pictured) arrived at the scene where he was stabbed this morning
Ibrahima was ‘so smiley and always made everybody laugh’, his parents have said.
‘Ibrahima was a well-liked young boy. He was funny, caring, and hardworking. He was our best friend, and he looked after me.
‘He was so smiley and always made everybody laugh. He was a good boy. The killers have killed two people: me and my son.
‘Why would anyone do this to him? He does nothing wrong. My family want justice.’
The teenager ran to a house nearby in New Moston after being injured, telling the resident, ‘I don’t want to die, according to the Manchester Evening News.
‘He just came through the door and said “I’ve been stabbed”.
‘We sat him down on a chair and phoned an ambulance,’ the resident said.
‘He just kept saying “I don’t want to die.”‘
Despite the efforts of the emergency services and staff from an air ambulance, the boy died in hospital.
The distressed relatives were seen arriving outside the Fairway Inn today, close to where the teen was found dead.
According to local residents, the shocking fatal stabbing is believed to have been sparked by an attempted bicycle theft.
Ibrahima is understood to have been stabbed on the corner of the busy Broadway dual carriageway outside the Fairway Inn pub before staggering up the road begging for help.
Greater Manchester Police have yet to comment on what led up to the confrontation.
Officers investigating the stabbing later raided a semi-detached council house a five-minute walk away from the scene.
His distressed father was seen being comforted as the family paid tribute to the schoolboy
Ibrahima’s mother (centre) was comforted by friends as they arrived at the scene
They were today standing guard outside the property where two forensics tents had been erected in the front garden.
Officers assisted by a sniffer dog were today searching the area outside the front of the pub as well as looking into bins and checking underneath vehicles in the car park, both of which remain cordoned off.
Ibrahima’s family also live a short distance away from where he tragically died.
Fran Hicklin, 80, who lives opposite the pub, said: ‘How are we living in a world where young children are carrying knives and 14-year-old boys are ending up being stabbed? It’s frightening.
‘I got home about 6pm and there were crowds of police everywhere.
‘I asked someone what had happened and they said a boy had been fatally stabbed.
‘It’s just so sad. I feel so sorry for his parents.’
A local shopkeeper said: ‘We’re all heartbroken for the family.
‘This isn’t a bad area so it’s shocking to have something like this happening on our doorstep.’
Flowers were placed at the scene of the stabbing, accompanied with a photograph of a young boy.
Police said two boys aged 14 and 16 are under arrest on suspicion of murder and a girl, 14, and woman, 37, are being held on suspicion of assisting an offender
Despite the efforts of the emergency services and staff from an air ambulance, the boy died in hospital
One written tribute said: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this horrific time.
‘There are good people in this city. We pray for your son.’
Another read: ‘Things need to change! Knives down, gloves up!’
Officers were first called to Nevin Road, New Moston, at about 5pm on Sunday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
Police said early investigations established the identities of possible suspects and after attending a nearby address, the woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
A short time later the two boys were arrested on suspicion of murder. The teenage girl was arrested overnight, GMP said.
All four remain in custody for questioning.
Local government minister Jim McMahon MP said: ‘My thoughts are with the family and friends of the young 14 year old boy who tragically lost his life on Nevin Road, New Moston-just moments from the constituency boundary.
‘This horrific incident has deeply shaken the local community and beyond.
‘The loss of such a young life in these circumstances is both heart-breaking and deeply troubling for everyone in the community, and especially parents with teenagers in the area.’
Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton of GMP said: ‘This incident will have shocked and saddened the local community, and distressed anyone who witnessed it.
‘We are deploying significant resources to this murder investigation, and this led to quickly identifying potential suspects.
‘We are still trying to establish the full circumstances around the incident – there will be a large police presence and several scenes in place while we continue to investigate this horrific incident.
‘The boy’s family are being supported by our officers and we are determined to give them the answers they deserve.
‘We will provide updates to the family and the community as the investigation continues.’
