Brother stabbed by gang 9 times

AS he watched blood pour from his brother's NINE stab wounds, teenager Nuridin Mohmoud had a horrifying thought—it was time to START carrying a knife.

The 14-year-old, whose brother remarkably survived despite being stabbed so many times last month, provided a chilling insight into the knife culture gripping Britain's streets.

He explained: "My brother is just 16. He was attacked with knives and screwdrivers.

"He was just walking home at about 11 at night and a gang of boys jumped him. After this, it has made me think about carrying a knife.

"Do people expect us not to carry knives to protect ourselves when we see someone we know stabbed?"

Protection

The audience at this week's Bristol leg of the News of World's Save Our Streets roadshow, which is touring the nation, fell silent as Nuridin spoke.

Nervously, he described how his wounded brother staggered into the family home after the stabbing in the city's Easton district.

He had four wounds to his back, one to the neck, one to his lung and two to his buttocks. Nuridin claimed the police failed to properly investigate the crime — an allegation they deny.

"He was stabbed nine times and the police didn't want to know," claimed Nuridin. "They just want to stare at us as we walk down the street, looking at us as if we have done something wrong. We need to protect ourselves, so why wouldn't we carry knives?"

His story provides a disturbing snapshot of violent Britain, where millions of youngsters believe that carrying a blade brings respect and safety.

It also explains why we launched our Save Our Streets campaign to help tackle the growing menace in our towns and cities—and why we are asking readers to sign our petition to the Prime Minister setting out a six-point action plan.

At the roadshow—chaired by ITV news presenter Steve Scott at Bristol's Riverside Youth Project—Nuridin and his pals heard harrowing stories about victims of other appalling attacks.

And they were also given a stark warning that those carrying knives are MORE LIKELY to become victims themselves.

Speaking from the panel, Avon and Somerset assistant chief constable JOHN LONG told youngsters: "If you carry knives, you are more likely to be stabbed.

"This is a fact, it has been statistically backed up."

There were heated exchanges as victims of violence poured scorn on what they consider short sentences handed out to offenders.

Listening intently alongside the audience were the other panellists, Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve, local councillor Shirley Marshall who is organiser of the Lives Not Knives campaign and Dennis Stinchcombe, a youth worker for 34 years.

Mrs Marshall's 15-year old son Daniel pointed out many youngsters are too negative. He said: "They say, ‘I can't be a lawyer, I can't be a doctor'. But it doesn't matter what colour skin you have, if you've a positive attitude you can be any of these things."

Torment

His mum Shirley believes the answer to the problem starts at home. She said: "Correct parenting is necessary, and we all need to work together to bridge the gap between ‘us' and ‘them', between society and young people."

One tormented dad whose son was beaten to death outside a nightclub told how his killer will soon be walking the streets — after less than two years in prison.

JOHN HAYHOE'S son James, 21, was surrounded by a gang of youths as he made a phone call.

He was punched by gang leader Kio Russell, 17, fell backwards and smashed his skull on a kerb.

The university student died after two weeks on a life support machine with John and mum Philippa, both 57, at his hospital bedside. Russell was convicted of manslaughter but was told he would only serve two years in jail because he was a minor.Mr and Mrs Hayhoe, of Radstock, Bath, condemned the court's leniency.

Dad John said: "The judge had the chance under new laws to jail him indefinitely as a danger to the public, but he didn't. This is not justice.

"Sentences need to be toughened because it would stop our children carrying knives and committing these horrendous crimes."

Mum KIM STARR explained how her 13-year-old daughter Bridie nearly died after being stabbed with a kitchen knife at school by another girl in a row over a boy.

Hundreds of schoolchildren recorded the attack on their mobile phones as Bridie slumped to the floor in a pool of blood.

Kim, 46, said: "The girl who was arrested was just 14. The judge said because she was too young for jail she would only be given a community order.

"But she wasn't too young to carry a knife or to stab my daughter. Young people shouldn't be carrying knives because this is what happens."

She was backed up by Tory MP Dominic Grieve who said: "The sense of respect for self and others has broken down.

"Unless we lay down the rule, ‘If you're caught carrying a knife there will be consequences,' we are doing these young people a disservice."

Youth worker DENNIS STINCHCOMBE added: "I think we've taken away power from the judiciary, from teachers, and from parents. I've watched that steady decline.

"We bring these people to this youth centre and work with them, then we send them back to hell.

"We need to stop the rot if we can. Communities have to work together, and it will take time."

Ex-gang member STEVEN DUNCAN described how he was gripped by a life of "knives, guns and drugs" when he was involved in gangland crime.

The 36-year-old, who has reformed his ways, slammed audience members who claimed knife crime was the result of racial tensions.

Steven, from Easton, Bristol, said: "The problem isn't racial or social. It arises on both sides of the social spectrum.

"There shouldn't be a ‘my black son and your white son' attitude. I should be looking out for your son, and you should be looking out for mine.

"We need to work as a team, as a community, to finally eradicate this problem."