Yahoo News Teenager admits racially-aggravated attempted murder of Syrian refugee
A teenager has admitted the racially-aggravated attempted murder of a Syrian refugee at a hostel in Edinburgh.
Shabaz Ali, who fled to Scotland five years ago with his family, was stabbed after an argument with Sean Gorman at a hostel in the early hours of 3 May.
Mr Ali, 25, was working as a barber and staying in the hostel at the time as he looked for a new home.
Gorman, 18, was visiting the hostel, and Mr Ali called at his room due to complain about the loud noise.
Gorman made threats and racially abused the victim before stabbing him and leaving the property.
He was traced a short time later and arrested, and a lock knife was recovered by police.
The 18-year-old pled guilty to racially-aggravated attempted murder as well as causing racially aggravated alarm to another woman within the hostel at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The charity Positive Action in Housing have supported the Ali family and released pictures of Shabaz in critical care at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after the attack.
His father Sivan told the charity he could hear his son’s attacker shout: “Why are you still here, why are you not back in your own country?”
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Campaigners set up an online appeal for donations “to help Shahbaz recover and rebuild his life” with more than £12,000 raised.
Gorman will be sentenced in August.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Grainger said: “Gorman’s violence was extreme and left the victim with significant, life-threatening injuries. He showed utter disregard for the victim and another woman who was with him – made all the worse given the appalling racist language used.”
