Killed by a single stab wound

Schoolby Kayser Osman died from a single stab wound, it was confirmed today.

A post-mortem examination concluded the 15-year-old Somalian died from a single wound but murder detectives - who believe they may know the identity of the killer - have refused to say where on his body he was stabbed.

Scotland Yard have been told the names of two key suspects - one who used the knife and a second youth - who may have been involved in a feud with the 15-year-old GCSE pupil.

It is known that Kayser, a pupil at Willesden High School, had been attacked before. During the past few months he is understood to have been involved in a fight and was kicked in the face, losing several teeth.

Minutes before the last attack on Tuesday, Kayser had been chatting with other friends in the estate's Acorn Youth Club, where he spent much of his time.

He was attacked after leaving the club on the Church End estate, Harlesden, where he was confronted by a group of up to nine youths and died from a single stab wound in the chest.

Paramedics were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers believe he may have been involved in an argument about a game of football.

Church End borders the notorious Stonebridge estate, once described as the worst in Britain. The brutality of the attack has shocked local residents.

Today the victim's parents voiced fears for their own safety. A family friend said: "They are very scared. They don't want anyone to know what they look like in case the attackers take reprisals. They have been crying since it happened. Their world has come crashing down."

Detectives are today intensifying their inquiries. Massive efforts are under way to find the murder weapon. Forensic teams have been searching the common areas on the estate and the drains. Officers are also conducting house-to-house inquiries. Kayser, a Manchester United fan, had been playing football at the youth centre, which is run by the charity Crime Concern.

Its facilities are targeted at 50 youths identified as at risk of offending. Kayser, whose family moved to Britain from Somalia in 1989, is not believed to have been among them. Last night the club was closed. Its managers issued a statement expressing their regret at the teenager's death.

Margaret Mary Kelly, spokeswoman for Crime Concern, which is responsible for the club's Youth Inclusion Project, said: "We dearly regret what's happened to Kayser. We would like to extend our sympathy to his family and his friends."

The murder has heightened concern among London's Somalian community about the number of attacks on refugees. Hussein Hersi, of the Red Sea Community Programme said: "The Somalian community came here running from violence back home and we are devastated to see another young life lost in this way. There is a lot of fear because when you are new in a country and have a different culture there are always problems. Incidents involving the Somalian community are happening all over London."

New figures from The Home Office reveal that crimes involving knives in London have trebled in the last year.

On Tuesday a youth was locked up indefinitely at a secure hospital after he was found to have knifed to death 12-year-old Somalian Abdul Hamza following a music festival in Finsbury Park in August 2000.