The stabbing death of 20-year-old Saudi student Mohammed Yousef Al-Qasim in Cambridge on Aug. 1 has reignited concerns over public safety in the UK — and its impact on Britain’s global image.
Al-Qasim, in the UK for a 10-week English course at EF International Language Campuses, was attacked near his residence in Mill Park in what police say was an unprovoked knife assault. Suspect Chas Corrigan, 21, faces murder and weapons charges; two other men have been arrested, one still at large.
Described by family, friends, and Saudi officials as “kind, generous, and full of promise,” Al-Qasim was a volunteer who served pilgrims during Hajj. His dream was to improve his English and build a better future.
But his killing in a city once considered safe for Saudi students reflects a troubling rise in violent crime across the UK. Knife crime in London alone has surged 86% since Mayor Sadiq Khan took office. Phone snatching — now a crime every six minutes — has also spiked 150% in the past year.
Critics argue that British authorities can spare resources to arrest peaceful protesters but fail to adequately patrol crime hotspots. The 30-minute ambulance delay reported by eyewitnesses in Al-Qasim’s case only deepens public frustration.
Safety reforms are possible — New York City’s 1990s “zero-tolerance” model under Rudy Giuliani cut murders by 66% and robberies by 67%. The UK needs its own decisive approach to restore trust in “Brand Britain.”
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