Funeral appeal for murder victim with no UK family

A fundraising appeal has been launched to cover the funeral costs of a man stabbed to death outside a primary school in Birmingham.

Ali Alshmari, 30, was attacked on Bridge Road in Alum Rock on Tuesday and pronounced dead at the scene.

Iqbal and Sons Bereavement Services, a charity providing free Muslim funerals for families in need, said it was seeking £4,070 to cover burial costs.

The charity added Alshmari had no family in the UK, having arrived from Iraq in 2025 as a student carrying "hope in his heart".

"Like so many who travel far from home, he came with the intention of working hard, studying and making his family proud," the appeal said.

The charity described Alshmari as the youngest child in his family, who had lost his father at a young age.

"Perhaps that is why Ali remained so devoted to his family, especially his mother," the appeal went on.

"Today that same mother is living a nightmare no parent should ever experience.

"Her beloved son died alone in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from the arms that raised him."

Mahmood Ibrahim, 32, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and attempted murder.

A woman in her 50s also suffered injuries to her hand during the attack and has since been discharged from hospital.

Det Insp Michelle Cordell, who is leading the police investigation, said the force's thoughts remained with Alshmari's family.

"We are grateful to the public for their response following this incident, and we understand the concern it has caused," she said.

"Footage shared with us has been helpful to the investigation, and we are urging anyone who has not yet been in touch to please do so."

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