This is the heartbreaking moment a distraught mother collapsed and screamed after finding out her 16-year-old son had been fatally stabbed during a fight after school.
Fiona Namusoke had been on her way to pick up Ashraf Habimana from college when she received a phone call to say he had been knifed in Luton, Bedfordshire.
Newly-released footage from September 2023 shows an inconsolable Ms Namusoke arriving at the scene and falling as she shouts at police: ‘I need to see him.’
As she throws her arms into the air, an officer attempts to reassure her and pull her up from the floor, saying: ‘I know, just let them, they need to do their job lovely.’
Ashraf, who wanted to work in cyber security, had texted Ms Namusoke after school finished with a message saying: ‘Mum, can you come and pick me up now?’
Ms Namusoke told Ashraf she would be there soon, but seven minutes later got a call to say he had been stabbed. She arrived at the scene and got out of her car just as an ambulance was leaving to take Ashraf to hospital, where he later died.
During the video captured on a police bodycam, one of the officer’s colleagues is also heard saying: ‘There’s one stab victim there and there’s another one over there.’
The clip was shared exclusively with the Daily Mail by Channel 4 today ahead of a new episode of its series 24 Hours In Police Custody airing at 9pm tomorrow.
Fiona Namusoke screams after son Ashraf Habimana is stabbed in Luton in September 2023
An inconsolable Ms Namusoke arrives at the murder scene and tells police: ‘I need to see him’
Bodycam footage shows an officer trying to reassure Ms Namusoke and pull her up
Ashraf Habimana was with friends in a car park in Luton when two groups of teenagers clashed
The documentary focuses on murders using zombie-style knives before they were banned in September 2024 and the impact the attack had on Ms Namusoke.
In the episode, a witness known as Shafaz becomes tearful as he recalls the scene, saying: ‘His mum turned up, that was probably the hardest bit. I think everybody around Ashraf had a gut reflex to keep mum away: “I don’t want her to see this”.’
He adds: ‘I looked down and I saw one of the knives. One of them, somebody had been carrying. And that’s when it hit me, because this wasn’t like a little knife.
‘This was a weapon. I couldn’t imagine the level of damage that the knife would have done inside.’
Seven teenagers were later sentenced in connection with the incident, with one receiving a life sentence for murder.
Ashraf, who was not involved in the initial fight, was with friends in a car park at about 7pm on September 29, 2023, when two groups of teenagers clashed after school.
In one of the groups were twin brothers Athif and Althaf Hussaindeen.
Athif had been injured in an earlier fight in Runfold Avenue which had broken out at around 3.45pm, before the row escalated over social media to a point where several teenagers had turned up to face each other armed with knives.
During the clashes, Althaf was captured on CCTV assaulting Ashraf who was then stabbed in the back three times by Athif.
Ashraf was taken to hospital but died a short time later. Athif stabbed another 16-year-old who survived the attack.
Twin brothers Athif (left) and Althaf Hussaindeen (right) are among seven sentenced over the attack. Athif is serving a minimum of 24 years, while Althaf was sentenced to seven years
A zombie-style knife recovered by Bedfordshire Police following the attack in Luton
Police bodycam footage shows the moment an officer picked up the knife from the ground
The twin brothers fled the scene but were later arrested and charged with murder.
Athif was unanimously found guilty of murder after a trial. He was also convicted of attempted murder, violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.
Althaf was found guilty of manslaughter and violent disorder.
Athif received a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 24 years, while Althaf was sentenced to seven years.
The brothers were both 18 at the time of sentencing in October 2024.
Five others have also been sentenced in relation to the case.
Timone Crossman, 18, was found guilty of violent disorder and possession of a bladed article, and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
Safwan Kashim, also 18, received a concurrent sentence of two years imprisonment for violent disorder and six months for possession of a bladed article.
Hasan Ayaz, also 18, was sentenced to nine months for possession of a bladed article.
Both Kashim and Ayaz were released following sentencing in July 2025 due to the time spent on remand while awaiting trial.
A 16-year-old was sentenced to a detention and training order for 16 months for violent disorder.
Another 16-year-old received a youth referral order for 12 months for violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.
Witness Shafaz says: ‘I think everybody around Ashraf had a gut reflex to keep mum away’
Police officers at the scene on Nunnery Lane in Luton after the stabbing in September 2023
The new documentary follows Bedfordshire Police during the national surrender of zombie knives, during which more than 37,000 knives were surrendered in the county by two companies based in Luton.
Zombie-style knives and machetes were banned across England and Wales in September 2024 – covering the manufacturing, supply, sale, possession and importation of these weapons – following a month-long surrender scheme.
The programme also features the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda in Wolverhampton in June 2022, whose death led to the creation of Ronan’s Law.
This legislation introduced a ban on ninja swords and prompted the surrender of thousands of ninja swords nationally last year.
Superintendent Alex House, Bedfordshire Police’s knife crime lead, said: ‘This documentary offers a powerful and unflinching insight into the devastating reality of knife crime.
‘It shows just how dangerous and destructive zombie-style knives are and why it is so important that we work together to stop them falling into the hands of young people.
‘Strong partnerships across services play a vital role in addressing root causes and supporting a long-term, preventative approach to knife crime.
‘I hope this programme delivers a clear message directly to young people about the very real risks and consequences of purchasing or carrying a knife, and encourages them to surrender any weapons, seek support and ultimately to “Just Drop It”.’
24 Hours in Police Custody: Zombie Knives is on Channel 4 tomorrow at 9pm
