Mohamud Mohammed Hassan, 24, was arrested by South Wales police last Friday and released without charge on Saturday morning. According to family and friends he left the police station covered in bruises and wounds. He died at home on Saturday night.
Mohamud’s aunt, Zainab Hassan, saw her nephew shortly after his release and confirms he showed signs of having been beaten by the police
“He had lots of wounds on his body and lots of bruises,” she said.
“He didn’t have these wounds when he was arrested and when he came out of Cardiff Bay police station, he had them.
“Nothing we do is going to bring him back, but we will not rest for a second until we have justice.”
Yesterday (Tuesday 12 January) hundreds of people protested angrily at the police station in Butetown, Cardiff, vowing not to rest until justice has been done for Mohamud.
Mohamud’s track suit covered in blood
Reports from neighbours say that Mohamud’s track suit was covered in blood.
The alleged beating that was inflicted on Mohamud is troubling in the extreme.
Solicitor Hilary Brown, director of Virgo Consultancy, said, “We want somebody to try to explain to us why a young, healthy man was arrested by South Wales Police with no apparent injuries to his body and as a result of being released from Cardiff Bay police station he was badly marked with bruising and cuts, and within hours was dead.”
First Minister Mark Drakeford said the reports of Mr Hassan’s death were “deeply concerning”.
For their part, South Wales police say there was no evidence of “excessive force”.
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: “Every effort should be made to seek the truth of what happened.”
“Why did this young man die?,” he added.
The community urgently need to know the answer to that question, and many more.
Where are the videos from inside the police station?
Why was he arrested in the first place, given that he was released without charge?
How did this otherwise healthy young man come by the grievous injuries that witnesses report?
Family, friends and protesters are adamant that South Wales police have blood on their hands. No justice, no peace!
Wales has seen the development of a vibrant Black Lives Matter movement and activists and protesters from across Wales have vowed to fight for justice for Mahmoud.
