An 18-year-old teenager, Azzam Raguragui, was stabbed to death on his way to a fast-breaking ceremony held at a mosque in Finsbury Park, Dundrum, Dublin. The murder examination is currently being carried out by Irish police and another teenage witness. While no arrest has been made in connection with the murder, police rejected a racial motive.
The Moroccan teenager was immediately transferred to St James’s Hospital, where he, however, succumbed to his wounds shortly after the transfer. Family and friends described the victim as respectful and easy-going, with his mother referring to the boy as a “martyr”. In a video recorded in the hospital, the mother also claimed that “god chose him in this holy month,” referring to the on-going Ramadan, and asked people to remain calm, read the Quran, and pray for her son.
Police identified a teenage suspect from south Dublin that has previously been engaged with a group that is considered violent. The suspect has reportedly claimed to act in self-defence. Although hate crime has been ruled out, Waterford Against Racism Facebook page said in a post that “those who are actively spreading hatred through online channels must take some of the responsibility for the rise in attacks on Muslims.” Overall, the incident is tragic and shocking for Moroccan Community in Dublin, with as many as 1300 of its members having attended a special gathering to support the parents and offer prayers to their son.
