A devastated family have paid an emotional tribute to their 15-year-old son who was stabbed to death in Manchester, vowing he will not become “yet another statistic in the rise of knife crime.”
Mohanad Abdullaahi Goobe was found with fatal injuries on Monton Street in Moss Side at around 4:30pm on Monday after what police described as a “disturbance involving a number of people.” Despite efforts by paramedics at the scene, the teenager was tragically pronounced dead.
In a heartbreaking statement released through Greater Manchester Police, Mohanad’s family remembered him as the “baby of the family” who was “quick to laugh, easy to love, with a ready smile.”
“The Last Time We Would See That Handsome Face”
The family’s tribute painted a picture of a beloved teenager whose life had been cut tragically short. “Mohanad was our 15-year-old son, and a younger sibling to his sister and brother,” they said.
“Our son had an uncanny ability to make you laugh, making it sometimes difficult to be serious with him. Mohanad had many friends, he was loyal and often played the class clown, simply to see them laugh.”
The most poignant part of their statement came as they described the unimaginable reality of their loss: “Mohanad’s life has been cut tragically short. It is difficult to comprehend that seeing your son head off for school in the morning would be the last time that we would see that handsome face.”
The family made clear their determination that their son’s death would not be reduced to mere statistics. “Mohanad deserves to be remembered for the young man who was loved by his family, and loved big in return, not as the boy whose life was taken with no thought or reason,” they stated.
We will not allow his name to be known as yet another statistic in the rise of knife crime. Remember Mohanad with love in your heart and a kind word on your lips.”
15-Year-Old Arrested on Murder Charges
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder in the early hours of Tuesday morning. He remains in custody for questioning as detectives from the Major Incident Team continue their investigation.
Officers were initially called to the Moss Side area following reports of a disturbance involving multiple people. When they arrived at the scene near Moss Lane East and Monton Street, they found Mohanad with stab wounds.
Despite immediate medical treatment at the scene and efforts to save him at hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Section 60 Powers Implemented
In response to the fatal stabbing, police implemented a Section 60 order covering the surrounding area until 5:20pm on Tuesday. The enhanced stop-and-search powers allow officers to search individuals without requiring reasonable suspicion, a measure designed to prevent further violence and recover weapons.
A blue forensic tent was erected at the scene near the junction with Lloyd Street North, with forensic officers photographed scouring the area for evidence throughout Monday night and Tuesday.
Chief Superintendent David Meeney from the City of Manchester district said: “There is a thorough investigation plan in place as we look to find the perpetrator of this appalling act that has seen a young man lose his life.”
He added: “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends after this tragic and upsetting incident, and our specially trained officers will be supporting them at this difficult time.”
Urgent Appeal for Information
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Davis, leading the investigation for GMP’s Major Incident Team, issued an urgent appeal for witnesses and evidence.
“We know just how shocking this incident has been for the whole community and we are working hard to establish the full circumstances behind it,” he said.
“Additional officers are in the area as part of our wider response and they will be able to assist with any queries you may have.”
DCI Davis confirmed that whilst one teenager was in custody, multiple lines of enquiry were being explored. “We have a teenage boy in custody and are exploring multiple lines of enquiry, but are asking for anyone with any information to please come forward,” he stated.
“Any information you have could greatly assist our investigation, and I would urge the public to share it with us.”
Community Urged to Submit Evidence
Police have particularly appealed for anyone with dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage from the area around the time of the incident to come forward. However, they have asked members of the public not to share such footage on social media, aware that videos relating to the incident were already circulating online.
Information can be submitted directly to the Major Incident Portal set up specifically for this investigation. Members of the public can also contact police via 101 or the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 2327 of 16/09/25.
For those wishing to remain anonymous, information can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Manchester’s Knife Crime Crisis
The tragic death of Mohanad comes amid alarming statistics about knife crime in Greater Manchester and across the UK. Manchester currently has the second-highest rate of knife crime outside London, with 3,842 annual incidents recorded and a violent crime rate of 13.8 per 1,000 residents.
The Moss Side area, where Monday’s fatal stabbing occurred, has been identified as a particular hotspot with a violent crime rate of 21.3 per 1,000 residents. Police attribute much of the violence to territorial disputes between active gangs operating in the area.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics data, Greater Manchester Police recorded 117 knife crimes per 100,000 population in the year ending March 2024. This represents approximately 9 per cent of all police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales.
Rising National Concern
The killing represents part of a broader national crisis that has seen knife crime in England and Wales rise by 41 per cent since 2011. In the year ending March 2024, there were around 50,500 offences involving a sharp instrument across England and Wales, excluding Greater Manchester.
Youth workers report increasing knife-carrying among 13 to 15-year-olds, particularly in areas with poor school attainment rates. The Youth Endowment Fund notes that 52 per cent of teenage children report changing their daily routines due to safety concerns, with 9 per cent admitting to joining gangs or carrying weapons for protection.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has branded the situation a “national crisis” and pledged to halve knife crime over the next decade. However, the latest data shows knife crime continuing to rise, with a 4 per cent increase recorded in the most recent annual figures.
Impact on Young Lives
Mohanad becomes one of 57 people under the age of 25 murdered with a knife or sharp object in England and Wales in the past year. Of particular concern is the fact that 17 of these victims were aged under 16.
The data reveals that teenagers aged 15 to 19 face the highest risk, being four times more likely to be stabbed than adults aged 30 to 44. Children and young people are increasingly both victims and perpetrators of knife violence, with two 12-year-olds last year becoming Britain’s youngest knife murderers in a case in Wolverhampton.
Criminologists warn that children killing children has become the “new normal” in some communities, with young people feeling compelled to carry knives for perceived protection despite this dramatically increasing their danger.
Family’s Powerful Message
As Greater Manchester Police continue their investigation and the community grapples with another young life lost to knife violence, Mohanad’s family’s words resonate powerfully. Their determination that their son should be remembered as a beloved teenager rather than a statistic speaks to the human cost behind the grim headlines.
The investigation remains active, with detectives working around the clock to piece together the circumstances that led to Monday afternoon’s fatal confrontation. Specialist family liaison officers continue to support Mohanad’s grieving family as they come to terms with their devastating loss.
For a family who waved goodbye to their son as he headed to school on Monday morning, never imagining it would be the last time, the pain is unimaginable. Their plea for Mohanad to be remembered “with love in your heart and a kind word on your lips” stands as a powerful reminder of the young life lost and the urgent need to address the knife crime epidemic claiming too many of Britain’s children.
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