Mother who brought family to Britain to escape cartel violence in one of Colombia's most dangerous cities may move BACK after her son, 15, was murdered at London house party

By ISABELLA MACHIN, REPORTER and SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:17, 15 June 2026 | Updated: 01:17, 15 June 2026 A mother who brought her family to Britain to escape cartel violence in Colombia is considering moving back after her teenage son was stabbed to death at a London house party. Alejandra Saldarriaga, 32, said the dreams that brought her family to London just three years ago had been 'put on pause' after Brayan, 15, was murdered in Hackney on May 25. 'It was supposed to be safer here,' she told the Daily Mail. 'As a mother I always wanted my children to have a better future. We left Colombia with hopes, but that wasn't the reality for us. 'My son studied, learnt the language and made a lot of friends. He was a marvellous boy, full of life. He had many goals. 'He was very fun, very happy and very friendly. His teachers had no complaints about him or his studies.' Brayan was among a crowd of teenagers at a Bank Holiday house party in Hackney's Mabley Green area when it is understood a fight broke out.  He was found with stab wounds in nearby Poplar Close, where witnesses reported seeing a figure in black running away carrying a large machete. Despite the efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene. 'He asked me for permission to go to the party. He was only allowed to go out if he asked,' said Ms Saldarriaga, who has set up a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of her son's funeral. 'He was meant to come back at 8pm. But he didn't come home.  Brayan was among a crowd of teenagers at a Bank Holiday house party in Hackney's Mabley Green area when it is understood a fight broke out  Screaming revellers sprinted away from the scene on the residential lane and towards Hackney Marshes 'His friend called me that night to tell me what happened. I felt like I was dying alongside him. 'It's been very difficult for me. His little sister keeps asking why he hasn't come back. She sees me crying and she tells me it's going to be okay because he's an angel up in heaven.' The ongoing murder investigation means Brayan's body has not yet been released to the family by the coroner - a painful delay for a devoutly Catholic family from a country where the dead are traditionally buried within 48 hours. In Britain, when a murder is suspected, the coroner holds legal control of the victim's body to conduct a forensic autopsy and gather evidence.  Two teenagers have been charged in connection with Brayan's murder, with one facing an additional charge of possession with an offensive weapon, neither of whom can be named because of their age. Footage of the incident captured screaming teenagers sprinting away from the scene and towards the Hackney Marshes, as shots were fired in the background.  One girl was heard shouting: 'He got done, oh my days, yo, he got done'.  Videos circulated online of Brayan lying on the ground, clutching on to his wounds, as youths stood around him with their phone cameras running.  It was through one of these clips that Brayan's best friend - who had been by his side since he arrived in the UK unable to speak a word of English - found out what happened to him.  The 15-year-old watched helplessly as his friend took his last breaths, surrounded by people thoughtlessly filming him gasping for air. Brayan's death lays bare the deadly reality teenagers face in London, where rising violence is increasingly taking root at teenage 'linkups' that have sprung up across UK's residential areas, high streets and parks this year. This environment has left teenagers fearful to join their friends, as figures show crime in the capital has soared since the Sir Sadiq Khan came to mayoral power - despite his claims it is a 'safe city'. Teenagers have subsequently had to become attuned to potential threats, which now includes 'linkup' gatherings - set up loosely by teenagers themselves, they quickly become an alcohol-fuelled arena where fights break out and violence festers. 'I wasn't stupid enough to go to Poplar Close that day,' Henry, whose name has been changed, told the Mail. Brayan's best friend added: 'It is not safe in London as a teenager. Everyone should feel safe, but the current dangers young people face is never going to stop.' Women ride past an armoured personnel carrier in Santander de Quilchao, Colombia - a country that has experienced escalating violence Teenager Brayan David Saldarriaga (pictured) was allegedly murdered on Poplar Close on the evening of Monday May 25 among a gathering of teenage revellers Ms Saldarriaga left Colombia in 2023. Her home city - which the Daily Mail is not naming for their own safety - is a cocaine trafficking hub with one of the highest murder rates in the entire country. The mother, who now lives in Haringey, north London, said the death of her son had left her considering whether to take her remaining child, a four-year-old daughter, back to Colombia.  The country saw 35 massacres in the first three months of 2026 alone, with conflicts between cartels, government forces and militia groups leaving it on the brink of civil war. The attacks, which claimed hundreds of lives, marked the most violent quarter in a decade, according to the Institute of Peace and Development Services.  'For the children to be in London, it was an opportunity that arose for us that would mean we could all succeed together,' she, who is from one of Colombia's most dangerous cities, said. 'But sadly, that wasn't the reality for us. 'The reasons why we came here, our hopes, our dreams have been put on pause. There are lots of things I'm now questioning. 'Do I stay? Do I go? I'm not sure - I've not made a decision.'  Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in the Hackney area, said: 'Our thoughts are with Barayan’s loved ones and we absolutely recognise their pain and distress as they grieve. 'Our priority is always to ensure victims and their families are treated with dignity and respect, while also conducting thorough investigations to bring the perpetrators of crime to justice. 'Officers are tackling serious criminality in Hackney. This year violence with injury offences have fallen by 58 per cent, compared with the two-year average. 'But we recognise there is still more to be done and officers will continue to work hard to relentlessly target offenders and protect local residents, so we can prevent further families going through the tragedy of a murder of a loved one.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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