'We can't bring them back' - stab victims' parents

Two parents whose sons were fatally stabbed within a year and a half of each other have said they will "never know why they were killed".

Abdul Aziz Ansari, 18, died in hospital in May 2022 after being attacked near shops in Slough, Berkshire.

His best friend Temur Qureshi, Hampden Road in Slough was fatally stabbed on Hampden Road in Slough, aged 19, in September the following year.

His mother Tatiana Qureshi said she wanted the community to "give a shoulder to others struggling" with knife crime.

Mr Ansari's father, Umar, described him as a "young community leader" who had lobbied for anti-knife bins to be put in place in Slough.

He explained his son had "gone innocently" to visit his friend on the day he was killed.

"He was walking home to join his family for dinner that evening and his life's been taken.

"The wound was a single stab wound to the heart.

"It wasn't just the family who suffered from our tragedy, the whole community was quite shaken."

He said many other parents had approached him since, raising concerns about knife crime and their children's safety.

"We have seen a closure of our youth clubs, so our youngsters don't have many things to do to keep them occupied.

"We are seeing a decrease in positive role models for youngsters," he added.

Tatiana Qureshi said her son, Temur, was chased on his way home from a friend's house when he was attacked.

She said: "Someone chased him and I don't know why"

She recalled his last words were "Mum, I am sorry for everything I've done. I love you".

Ms Qureshi said: "I can't bring Temur back but maybe, just maybe, we can save someone else."

A 16-year-old boy, was convicted of murdering Mr Ansari and was sentenced to serve a minimum of 15 years in jail.

While, Jack Patterson, 18, from Slough was jailed for nine years for Temur Qureshi's manslaughter.

Both parents spoke at a knife crime awareness event in Maidenhead which was attended by Thames Valley Police officers, community workers and other parents of victims.

Thames Valley Police figures show there were 122 crimes involving knives in Slough in 2024, a 22% drop on the previous year.

Aamash Qazi, a friend of Temur Qureshi's, said three of his friends had died in stabbing incidents in the past five years.

"It's not just me, there are lots of other boys who've lost friends due to knife crime.

"We need to show young people that it's not too late to turn your life around."

Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Dennis Murray said: "There's lots of misconceptions around knife crime, some people will think carrying a knife will make them safer.

"Actually, the evidence shows that it puts them more at risk of either using it and becoming an offender or becoming the victim of a crime and ending their life.

"The whole community needs to come together to help tackle violence."

"We can't just police our way out of a knife crime issue, this takes a holistic and whole community approach," he added.

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