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March against knife crime held after boy's death

Rumeana JahangirBBC News
News imageBBC Many people march in front of a pub at the junction near where Ibrahima was attacked.BBC
Marchers walked past the scene where Ibrahima Seck was attacked on Broadway

About 1,000 people took part in a march against knife crime following the fatal stabbing of a teenager who was on his way to play football.

Ibrahima Seck,14, had been walking with his brothers and friends to a park in New Moston, Manchester, when he was attacked on 8 June.

His parents, who previously said he was "funny, caring, and hardworking", led the march near where he was stabbed on Broadway to mark a week since his death.

Karen Birch, who worked with Ibrahima at his school and helped organise the event, told BBC North West Tonight the community was "devastated and in tears".

News imageFamily handout Ibrahima Seck smiling for the camera and giving a thumbs up.Family handout
Ibrahima Seck had a 100% school attendance record and was doing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Ms Birch said: "We are holding this in memory of him and of all the other youths in the area who have died through knife crime.

"We can't keep putting a plaster over this and thinking that it's not happening. We have to stop it and that starts at home, it starts with parenting, it starts in schools.

"We need basic skills bringing back into our classroom – what is right, what is wrong."

News imageIbrahima Seck's father clasps his arm around his wife while others stand beside them wearing white shirts with Ibrahima's picture. Floral tributes are laid out on the ground in front of them.
Ibrahima Seck's parents (centre) attended the event near where their son was attacked

Marchers gathered at the nearby home of a couple who had tried to save the injured Ibrahima after he asked them for help.

The teenager's father led the crowd in chants of "I don't want to die" after it was reported that his son made the remark to the couple.

Ibrahima had a 100% school attendance rate and had been doing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, according to his head teacher at Greater Manchester Independent School, who described him as a "lively, intelligent and engaging young man whose presence lit up every room".

Two 14-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to their ages, have been charged with his murder and possession of a bladed article.

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