African community leaders slam ‘senseless killings’ in video on social media

An African community leader has shared an impassioned nine-minute video begging for an end to violence after a wave of tragic stabbing deaths.

Leaders from Melbourne’s African community have condemned a wave of payback knife attacks, saying “kids are dropping like flies”.

Families of youths caught in the escalating street violence, as well as the state government, are being begged to ­urgently intervene, with one community leader saying “more young people will die” if no action is taken.

In an emotional nine-minute video posted on social media, community advocate Hanad Hersi said Melbourne’s streets were “full of blood”.

His extraordinary plea for peace came a day after Tarneit teenager Hashim Mohamed was killed in a brutal knife attack on the St Kilda foreshore as hundreds of Melburnians flocked to the popular beach on Sunday.

Hashim Mohamad died at The Alfred hospital after being fatally stabbed at St Kilda foreshore. Picture: Supplied

In the video, a despairing Mr Hersi said: “We really need to start asking ourselves real hard questions around what the actual f--- is going on.

“What is happening to our young people? When did this level of violence become OK?

“When was it OK to ever take a life? They’re kids, being killed for what? Our young kids are dropping like flies,” said Mr Hersi, the programs manager at multicultural ­support organisation Youth Activating Youth.

“The streets are full of blood, we’re talking about … young kids who haven’t lived. They’re kids, being killed for what? And we’re OK with it? Why are we quiet?”

Mr Hersi added that “every other week” he was seeing another “young brother” die from knife crime.

“We’re living in a generation right now where every single young person knows someone who has passed away, knows someone who’s been stabbed, knows someone who’s been violently bashed or jumped,” he said.

Police at the scene of the stabbing in St Kilda. Picture: Supplied

Farah Warsame, president of the Somali Community Inc, said he was also alarmed.

“The knife crime is getting worse with young people,” he said. “It is the worst it has ever been at the moment. This problem will continue, more people will die.

“Something needs to be done. Our community haven’t had these kinds of issues ­before,” he added.

Mr Warsame said he had spoken to parents who were “frightened” of sending their children to school due to fears of violence. There needed to be better intervention through crime prevention programs as well as grassroots sports initiatives, he said.

“As a community it is frustrating. We need the government to do something. The youth unemployment rate among the African community is high. We need to get kids off the streets, they need support.”

Solomone Taufeulungaki, 15 was Ambushed by 11 young men, aged between 13 and 23, and fatally stabbed in the carpark of Brimbank shopping centre following days of escalating fights between two groups.

Alier Riak, 23 was stabbed during a violent brawl in the early hours after celebrating his birthday with friends.

Another African community elder from the western suburbs described the situation as “absolutely critical” after Sunday’s fatality.

“We are very wary of the instability in the community right now,” he said.

“We just need to de-escalate it at the moment. There’s been so many attacks within the community. Many have been injured and it has not been ­recorded.

“Things are not being left where they are. We must not go at things with knives.”

The social media sites of Melbourne-based gang members features dozens of images of youths brandishing weapons including machetes.

In one Instagram post, a male poses with a knife and uses the last two digits of his postcode as the caption.

Many of the gangs are identified through the last two digits of their postcodes, with fights revolving around territorial disagreements, casual abuse and paybacks for previous attacks.

Police sources said tensions had “escalated” in recent months between rival youth gang members across Melbourne.

Bless Mulukwat Akoch, 17 was stabbed to death at a Werribee junior basketball stadium by a 15 year old.

Kose Kose, 20, was atally stabbed about 5.45am in Melbourne’s CBD.

“I have feared for months that someone was going to get killed or seriously injured as a result of gang violence and it’s now sadly happened,” one police source said.

“Tensions have escalated in recent months between rival gangs from Melbourne’s southeast and west. They meet up at shopping centres and train stations to fight.

“These gangs are trying to show their power and authority. They are using social media to fuel their notoriety and that’s making matters worse.”

Another police source confirmed: “The youth gangs are using the last two digits of their postcodes as gang names.”

A Victoria Police statement said any incident involving knife violence was “highly concerning and has the real ability to end in tragic circumstances”.

“Any death or serious injury caused by a knife attack is one too many, and we have zero tolerance for those who bring knives to a fight.

Declan Cutler, 16 was allegedly chased down and stabbed by a group of males after a confrontation at a party. Eight males, aged 13 to 17, have been charged.

“Victoria Police understands the damage caused by youth gangs, including violent knife attacks most often against one another.”

“This is why we launched Operation Alliance in September 2020, an ongoing statewide operation intent on disrupting and dismantling the youth gangs causing the most harm,” the statement read.

A Victorian government spokesman said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Hashim Mohamed.

“As this is an active police matter, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”