Man sentenced to 27 years for murder of teenager

A man has been sentenced to 27 years for the murder of a teenager after an attack in Westminster.

Mohamed Abdi, 19, was found with a knife wound on Tuesday, 4 June 2024 at the junction with Edgware Road, NW1.

Awad Abdel Samad, 24 (18.11.2000), of Weatherbury Talbot Road, Westminster, was arrested on suspicion of murder and possession of a bladed article on Thursday, 8 October 2024. He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 27 years for murder on Thursday, 13 November, with a further 12 months to run concurrently for the second charge.

When Samad was arrested, he was also found in possession of a large lock knife. For this, he was arrested for a second charge of possession of a bladed article and sentenced to a further six months, also to run concurrently.

Mohamad El-Hazzaa, 27, (27.06.1998), of Bruckner Street, Westminster, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice on Wednesday, 24 September 2025 and sentenced to three years on Thursday, 13 November. He was also disqualified from driving for three years and six months.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Denby, of Specialist Crime South, said: "The attack which left Abdi dead took just 25 seconds. It is a stark and brutal example of the horrors of gang violence.

"Samad tried to evade police and escape justice. He even travelled to a hospital in Luton, giving a fake name, to be treated for injuries he sustained in the attack.

"Officers used advanced analysis of technical data alongside CCTV of the event to prove without doubt that Samad was the person who killed Abdi and trace them away from the scene.

"We will continue to work tirelessly and use all our resources to bring violent criminals to justice and make London a safer city."

Samad and Abdi, who knew each other before the murder, had been driving down Edgware Road in separate cars in the lead-up to the attack.

In traffic, Abdi drew his Porsche Cayenne up to the back of Samad's Seat Leon. He flashed his lights, at which the occupants of both cars jumped out and fought in the street.

Both were armed with knives, but when Samad disarmed his opponent Abdi tried to retreat back to his vehicle. But before he was able to shut the car door Samad attacked with his knife, stabbing Abdi three times.

Within just 25 seconds of the Porsche's lights being flashed, the fatal attack was over.

Police were called at 22:40hrs on Tuesday, 4 June 2024 to reports of a fight on Bell Street, at the junction with Edgware Road, NW1.

Officers responded and found 19-year-old Mohamed Abdi suffering from a knife wound injury.

They administered CPR before London Ambulance Service paramedics arrived.

The second defendant, El-Hazzaa, was the driver of the Seat Leon. He did not participate in the violence but acted as a getaway driver, taking Samad away from the scene.

In the following hours, he swapped his phone and booked a flight to leave the country. When he returned in November, officers were waiting for him at the airport.

Police were able to use CCTV from the scene to clearly prove the events of the night. The video showed the incident itself, and was used by detectives to identify the victim and killer.

The footage was used alongside thorough analysis of phone data to trace the suspects from their homes to the scene of the crime.