Hundreds attend Luton vigil for Ashraf Habimana

Hundreds attended the vigil held on Wednesday night at Luton's Wardown Park

Hundreds of people have attended a vigil to remember a 16-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed.

Ashraf Habimana died after an attack in Nunnery Lane, Luton, last Friday.

Aimi Rix, who organised the vigil featuring prayers and singing at Wardown Park on Wednesday, said it was a "beautiful turnout".

"It's not just praying and expecting a miracle, we have to put the work in," she said, adding that the event should be "just the start".

Ashraf Habimana had a "unique ability to bring joy to everyone around him", his family said

Yvonne Michele, who attended the vigil, said: "This has been going on for years, we're a community so anything that happens like that is going to have an impact."

She said fresh ideas were needed to tackle knife crime.

"That means everybody bringing something to the table, so that's parents, police, our MPs, everybody.

"We need more than prayer, we need action as well as prayer, the prayer is the foundation, now we can start building now, rebuilding Luton."

An attendee of the vigil said "we're all affected by knife crime in this community"

Two teenage boys have been re-arrested on suspicion of Ashraf's murder and remain in police custody for questioning.

The boys were among five people originally arrested in the investigation on suspicion of murder who were subsequently released on bail.

Bedfordshire Police and Luton Council will be holding an engagement session in Luton for people to suggest ideas to tackle knife crime

Officers are looking to trace another suspect in connection to the incident and are asking the public to come forward with any information or video footage that can help with their inquiries.

The family of Ashraf, who was a student at Luton Sixth Form College, have said his "positive outlook on life was infectious and he had a unique ability to bring joy to everyone around him".