Stabbed to death: Hassan Mahmood, 15, pictured in the park in Birmingham yesterday hours before he was killed
A 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in a park after an argument which 'started on Facebook' escalated.
Hassan Mahmood was attacked in South Yardley, Birmingham, last night following an argument between two groups of youths.
Police are questioning four teenagers on suspicion of murder following the killing.
Two 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old are
in custody, West Midlands Police said.
Friends
of the murdered schoolboy claimed that Hassan was sticking up for his
girlfriend after another teenager insulted her on Facebook.
Paramedics
rushed to scene at 5.55pm yesterday after the fight broke out. A large
area near Oaklands Park remained cordoned off today while the murder
investigation got underway.
Detective Inspector Tom Chisholm, who
is leading the investigation, said: 'We are aware that there were groups
of young people in the area, some of whom may have left the scene
before the police arrived.
'There
is some suggestion that this was a fight which has tragically gone too
far. I would ask that people who were in the park or anyone else with
information to contact us immediately.'
A friend, who was at the scene today, said teenage 'banter' suddenly turned into violence.
'It was a fight that got out of hand,' they said.
'Apparently another lad wrote something nasty on Facebook about his girlfriend and he found out and challenged him.
'It
started out as a bit of banter but spiralled and someone pulled a
blade. I wasn't there but I know people who were. Hassan was just
sticking up for Jess and got killed for it. It's wrong.
'I think the lad said his girlfriend was a s*** or something like that.'
Dozens of messages of condolence have
been posted on a memorial site set up for Hassan and flowers have been
left at the scene where he died.
Schoolboy killing: Hassan Mahmood, 15, died
after a fight broke out between two groups of youths in South Yardley,
Birmingham, last night
Hassan's girlfriend left a bunch of flowers at the scene with a note which read: 'Hassan RIP - Baby I will never forget you - best boyfriend ever.
'I love you more everyday, my soldier, your princess.'
Another message read: 'Hassan RIP Baby. I will never forget you. Best boyfriend
ever. I love you more everyday my soldier. Your princess xxx.'
Another message, written on a black balloon, said: 'RIP Hassan. Your always in our duas.'
And on a gold balloon, one friend wrote: 'RIP Hassan. Your in paradise.'
At the family's terraced home just 150 yards away, the blinds were drawn shut.
Tributes: Six bouquets of flowers left at the scene in the park in Birmingham after Hassan, 15, was stabbed to death
Rest in Peace: A gold and black balloon left in the park for the 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death
Other friends had paid tribute to the tragic teenager online, and they said that Facebook had been the trigger for the fight.
A friend wrote: 'It's patetic if what ave
just read from one of the close friends to this young lads uncle..who
says the young lad was murdered due to an argument that escalated over
Facebook..then I think these social websites need to be band.'
And another said: 'Apparently it was over an argument that broke out on FB. May God bless him.'
Sajid Ramzan, Hassan's uncle, said:
'He was in the park with his friends and had a fight with a kid. The kid
then pulled a knife out on him and stabbed him. He was with his friends
who called the ambulance, but sadly he passed away.
Shock: Friends of the 15-year-old boy have been
leaving flowers at the scene today after he was knifed to death in a
park last night
'I've heard rumours that an argument started over Facebook and that's what the fight was about.
'We are all absolutely devastated. His parents are almost unconscious with grief. It has completely devastated the whole family.
'He was a good kid. He enjoyed keeping
fit, going to the gym, he was very healthy. We just cannot believe it,
you just don't expect a person to pull a knife out.'
A floodlit search of the area was conducted last night with further searches to be carried out today.
Roads in the area have been closed while specialist forensic scene investigators scoured the area for clues.
Hunt: A team of police officers comb the park for clues today as it remains cordoned off following the murder last night
Search: The police officers look for clues as four teenagers are held on suspicion of murder
Det Insp Chisholm added: 'This was a tragic incident and our deepest condolences go out to the young man's family.
'A
murder investigation was immediately launched. We have a team of
detectives working with local officers to gain an understanding of what
happened.
'I would ask that people who were in the park or anyone else with information to contact us immediately.
'We
are very well experienced at supporting people who are reluctant to
share important information which helps solve serious crimes like this.
If anyone finds themselves in that position I would urge them to contact
me personally.'
Scene: The park in South Yardley, Birmingham, where Hassan was stabbed to death last night
Murder investigation: A police forensics officer
gathers evidence in Oakland Park, Yardley, Birmingham, after a
15-year-old boy was stabbed to death
Hassan's headteacher Sohail Aslam, from the Rightrack Independent School in Saltley, Birmingham, added: 'He was a recent addition to our school.
'He had been with us six weeks but had settled very quickly and was well-liked by all the staff and students.
'He was very respectful towards everybody, we'd had no problems and he had a bright future.'
He added that the teenager had been working towards his GCSEs and loved 'sports and singing'.
Mr Aslam said the school was considering some form of tribute to Hassan, in conjunction with the boy's family.
Anyone
with information which may help DI Chisholm should call him on 101.
Alternatively, people who do not want to speak with police officers
directly can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on
0800 555 111.
Evidence: Police mark a squashed water bottle which has been left at the scene as they investigate the killing
Probe: Four teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a fight broke out between two groups of youths
Search: Evidence is collected from the scene by a police worker today as a murder investigation gets underway
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