Man ‘who stabbed eight-year-old girl to death had attacked child’s mother after argument over phone’

A man arrested after the murder of an eight-year-old girl reportedly attacked her mother in a row over a mobile phone.

Malika Noor Al Katib died on Sunday evening after being stabbed in the neck at her home in County Wexford, Ireland.

Police understand she was asleep when the argument started downstairs and she intervened to protect her mother.

But the knifeman then pointed the gun at the little girl and stabbed Malika at least twice. The Irish Independent has reported.

Her mother Alish Al Katib, 31, was stabbed in the chest during the horror attack but managed to raise the alarm.

Malika was rushed to University Hospital Waterford at around 11.45pm on Sunday, but died early on Monday morning.

A 34-year-old man, believed to be known to the mother and daughter, was arrested on December 2 on suspicion of Malika’s murder.

Imam Rashid Munir of the Waterford Al-Munir Islamic Center said he had spoken to Malika’s mother, who is “not in a good condition at the moment.”

The area remained cordoned off following the attack on Sunday evening while Garda investigate Malika’s death

He told RTÉ: ‘She witnessed her child being murdered in front of her eyes and that’s not easy.’

Imam Munir said Malika’s mother was being treated in hospital for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

He described Malika as a “sweet child” and a “beautiful girl” who often came to his Islamic Center.

“She was like any eight-year-old. She was extremely cheerful and showed great interest in learning about Islam and did very well in her studies, Imam Munir said.

She wanted to be integrated into the community and do something extraordinary.”

Local councilor John Dwyer told the Irish Daily Mail that he had spoken directly to relatives of the girl and that they were ‘inconsolable with grief’.

He said: “The whole community is numbed by this. It’s an absolute tragedy. I spoke to family members who are devastated, as you can imagine.

‘It’s an eight-year-old child who was murdered in this way. It’s just so heartbreaking.

“The news spread like wildfire through the city, as you can imagine. My thoughts are with the family here and we will do what we can to help them.”

Therese White, principal of New Ross Educate Together National School, where the young girl was a pupil, said her death is a ‘terrible tragedy’. “We learned this morning that a student from our school has passed away,” she said in a statement.

Garda at the scene in New Ross, County Wexford, where the stabbing took place

“This is a terrible tragedy for the family, our school and our community. We are deeply saddened by these events. Our condolences and thoughts are with family and friends.

‘The school has implemented our critical incident management plan and we have support from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

‘They have been with us all day to support and advise teachers in their efforts to help students during this time. Our teachers help students cope with this tragic event.

“Today we are sharing information with parents about how they can support their children during this difficult time.”

A Garda spokesperson previously said: ‘Gardai are appealing for anyone with information about this incident to come forward.

‘Anyone with information is asked to contact New Ross Garda Station on 051 426 030, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111 or any Garda Station.’