Tragic death in Hastings

A 16 year old foreign student died in hospital on Sunday August 24 after being attacked in Hastings on Friday night.

Mohammed Al-Majed was from the Gulf state of Qatar and after five weeks in Hastings studying English he was due to return home next week.

Three males, aged 17, 18 and 20 have been arrested and released on bail pending investigation.

Council leader Peter Pragnell said, ‘I was deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident. Racism and violence have no place in Hastings and we are committed to make our beautiful town a safe and welcoming place to live, work and visit.
Unfortunately, we seem to have an epidemic of violence at a national level at present and it only takes a few individuals to tar the reputation of a whole town.
My deepest sympathies go to Mohammed's family and my thoughts are with them.’

Mike Fagan, Community Safety Coordinator with the Safer Hastings Partnership, said, "I am deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic incident. Our thoughts are with Mohammed's family. We take very seriously all incidents of racism and violence and our partnership has already done much in recent years to make big reductions in assaults with injury and crimes against visiting language students. This unprecedented tragedy will strengthen our resolve to continue to do all we can to work together to make Hastings a safe place to live, work and visit."

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