Quham Babatunde, 34, a Nigerian asylum seeker, was fatally stabbed near Dublin’s main shopping district.
Babatunde was attacked in the early hours of Saturday, 15 February, 2025 on South Anne Street after reportedly attending an Afroswing event at a nearby nightclub.
Emergency responders treated him for multiple stab wounds, including one to the heart, The Irish Independent reported. Despite being rushed to St James’s Hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
A second man, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including a suspected fractured cheekbone, was also treated at the same hospital.
Gardaí have launched a murder investigation and confirmed that two men have been arrested and are being questioned in connection with the fatal stabbing.
Babatunde had been living at the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre in Ballyogan, south Dublin, according to RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster.
Disturbing footage circulating on social media appears to show a masked individual wielding a large knife during a chaotic brawl on South Anne Street, near Grafton Street—one of Europe’s busiest shopping areas.
The video captures the apparent moment of the attack, followed by scenes of paramedics attempting to save Babatunde’s life.
Authorities believe both the victim and the suspects had attended the same Afroswing event at Twenty Two Dublin nightclub.
Investigators are examining whether the stabbing was linked to a confrontation between two groups following the event. The suspects fled the scene before emergency services arrived.
In the wake of the tragedy, management at the Ballyogan IPAS centre issued a statement expressing condolences and acknowledging Babatunde as one of the centre’s earliest residents.
“In light of this sad event, anyone who has been affected, IPAS has put in place support for both residents and staff to be able to get through this difficult time,” the statement read.
