Omani student killed in London was son of a business tycoon

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - Mohammed Al Araimi, the young Omani student stabbed to death in London on Friday night, is the son of a prominent businessman in Oman, friends of the family said.

Al Araimi was studying politics and economics at Kings College. He was 20 years old, British police on Sunday, correcting their earlier report that he was 26.

His father, Sheikh Abdalla Al Araimi, owns a group of companies registered under the name of Al Raid Group. The family comes from the eastern coastal city of Sur, a former seafaring town that expanded Oman’s trade to Africa and India.

“Sheikh Abdalla Al Araimi is a great philanthropist, well-loved and respected in his hometown. He is one of the business pioneers of the country who made good in various businesses,” a friend of the family, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity issue, told The National.

Al Raid Group, which he established in 1974, is into logistics, properties, office leasing and retail. Its latest enterprise is the Al Araimi Boulevard, a mall in Muscat with 220 retail shops that opened in April this year.

Mohammed Al Araimi was walking home from a restaurant in London’s Knightsbridge district with a Bahraini friend when they were approached by two men who tried to rob them.

He was reportedly chased and stabbed in the back before collapsing under a Christmas tree next to Harrods department store. He was treated by paramedics but pronounced dead at the scene 30 minutes after midnight. His friend, who was also injured, was later released from hospital.

Police have not made any arrests over the attack and are appealing for witnesses and motorists with dash-cams who may have been driving near the scene to contact them.

"The victim and his friend were entirely blameless, simply enjoying a meal out together,” Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge said. “It does appear that the motive for this cowardly attack was robbery."

Al Araimi was one of three men stabbed to death in London in the space of about 12 hours.

“He was a nice young man, polite and considerate. He loved sports and the outdoors. He was expected to join the Al Raid Group after his studies. It is unfortunate this has cut his life short,” another friend of the family said.

He said Al Araimi’s body was expected to be flown home from London on Monday for burial.