A 15-year-old Syrian refugee, Ahmed Kurd Hassan, was stabbed to death in Enschede, Netherlands, just nine days after receiving his Dutch residence permit. The tragic event occurred on December 22, 2023, and has left his parents, who had entrusted him to a smuggler to escape the war-torn region, devastated.

The incident took place in the city center of Enschede, where Ahmed and four other Syrian minors encountered a group of five local boys and men. An altercation ensued, escalating into a violent confrontation at a parking garage, where Ahmed was fatally stabbed. His 14-year-old friend, Riad, was also stabbed but survived.

The primary suspect, 22-year-old Daniel, also known as ‘Colo’, faces a 16-year prison sentence for manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. Daniel, who has a criminal record, allegedly stabbed Ahmed in the lung and near the heart. He has remained largely silent during the trial, claiming to have been knocked unconscious.

Ahmed’s parents, originally from Raqqa, Syria, a city once controlled by ISIS, had hoped the Netherlands would provide their son with safety and opportunity. Ahmed was attending an international transition class with aspirations of becoming an engineer.

The trial is ongoing in Almelo, with a verdict expected in the autumn. Ahmed’s mother expressed her concern in court that the suspects pose a danger to others. Despite the gravity of the crime, media coverage has been primarily limited to regional outlets.