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Knifed to death for his mobile
Jack Lefley, Evening Standard8 Oct 2007
An A-level student was stabbed to death for his mobile phone by muggers while walking home.
Rizwan Darbar, 17, was with two friends in West Ham Park yesterday afternoon when they were confronted by three teenagers.
His two friends gave up their mobiles but Rizwan hesitated and before he could comply he was knifed once in the stomach. He collapsed in agony and died in hospital despite an emergency operation.
It happened less than a mile from where 15-year-old Adam Regis was stabbed to death in March in an unprovoked attack.
Rizwan is the 21st teenager to be murdered in London this year and one senior Met officer said today that teenage violence was one of the biggest challenges facing the force.
Rizwan, from Forest Gate, who dreamed of earning his fortune in the City, suffered massive internal bleeding.
His brother Tausif, 19, said: "I got a call from my mother, who was crying, to say that someone had phoned to say Rizwan had been stabbed. I went straight down there but they were already putting him in the ambulance.
"They were giving him morphine but he was in so much pain that he couldn't talk to me. He recognised me - at least he knew I was there with him.
"He had been stabbed in the stomach once. There was blood but they said there was a lot of internal bleeding.
"He suffered two heart attacks in the hospital. He survived the first but his body could not take the second."
Tausif added: "I've spoken to one of the boys who was with him who said it was black guyswho demanded their money and phones. They say they handed them over and Rizwan was going to but hesitated and one of them stabbed him and they ran off."
Tausif, who is studying accounting and finance at London's Metropolitan University, said: "We would appeal to whoever did this to give themselves up. If anyone knows who they are, they must come forward."
Rizwan was studying A-levels in business studies, accounting and finance at Newham Sixth Form College. His ambition was to be a City stockbroker.
Rizwan's mother Memuna, 42, was too distraught to talk. His father Aiyub, 46, a travel agent, said: "He was a good boy, a very quiet and well-respected boy.
"He was doing three A-levels but despite his studies he had a part-time job in Curry's because he was a hardworking boy. None of us can believe that this has happened to Rizwan.
"He was a good son and all I could have asked for. This has come as a body blow to our family. He loved playing football and spending time with his friends, he was just a normal boy."
Officers today said that Rizwan and his friends had been listening to music on a phone when they were stopped by three men at about 5.35pm. One is described as black, around 18, between 5ft 10ins and 6ft 1ins with short hair.
The second is said to be black, about 18, 5ft 10ins with short hair. The third was said to be light-skinned mixed race, about 18 and 5ft 8ins.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Horne said that Rizwan had been subjected to "unprovoked and gratuitous violence".
He said it was thought that the mixed race man had wielded the knife. He also revealed that a knife had been found in undergrowth.
Anyone with any information should call the incident room on 020 8345 3775 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
This afternoon a senior police officer said teenage killings and violence was a major challenge facing the Met.
Detective Chief Inspector Barry Norman, who is part of the Metropolitan Territorial Policing Unit, added: "I don't there's anything more important to Londoners than this, with the possible exception of terrorism, especially to parents."
He added that many young people in rundown estates throughout London have a lack of integration and positive role models to look up to, adding: "If we don't invest in young people then this will only get worse."
Reader views (5)
R.I.P Rizwan Darbar
- Miraz Uddin, London, 29/01/2010 22:47
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It's atrocious, act of evil and totally unacceptable. It is becoming the norm in the East London society, where youths are mugging, belittling young Asian men who are minding their own business. I have friends who have been victims where their have been exposed to knives, illegal weapons if they do not give up their possessions. This is a cowardly act practiced by many youngsters today who think they can bully people in to giving their valuables,
What are the police and the government doing? Don’t they think it’s about time they introduce some strict laws to prevent such doings.
One would consider whether it’s about time, we should sanction strict and stringent punishments. Maybe the luxury of the prison life in the UK is not suffice to make one think twice before he commits a crime.
- Sumaiya Bhad, London, 09/10/2007 13:19
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How likely is this to create racial violenece against young black men from the young Asian community?
- Jay, London, 08/10/2007 23:17
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This is a civil rights issue. People of all races should be free to live their lives in London without fear of being mugged, stabbed or shot.
- Terry, Watford, England, 08/10/2007 19:59
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Rizwaan was my cousin brother. I can't believe he's gone. He died for what, not giving a mobile phone. I can't believe this. He was a brother to me and everytime he came up to Bolton it was just amazing to have him around. Sorry. We all love you and miss you.
- Hashim Ali, Bolton, 08/10/2007 19:37
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