Pictured: Youth footballer, 15, fighting for his life after he and his businessman father were stabbed by masked men in ‘unprovoked’ house raid

DAILYMAIL.COM • 5h ago

By OLIVIA CHRISTIE, NEWS REPORTER 15:01 13 Oct 2026, updated 15:04 13 Oct 2026

A 15-year-old boy who was stabbed alongside his businessman father by masked men during an ‘unprovoked’ house raid has been pictured.

Imrane Chelirem and his father Mohamed Chelirem, aged in his 50s, are fighting for their lives in hospital following the attack at their family home in Thurnby, Leicestershire.

Armed police rushed to the property following reports three people had been assaulted during a break-in at around 12.30am on Thursday.

A woman, aged in her 40s, suffered minor injuries to her hand and shoulder and has been discharged from hospital.

Three other children who were also in the house were not injured.

It is understood Mr Chelirem is a director of a vehicle recovery firm, while his son Imrane is a youth footballer for Coalville Town Raptors.

The club has launched a fundraising appeal to support the Chelirem family, saying its footballing community has been left devastated by what happened.

In a post, the club said: ‘Imrane is so much more than our number 15. He’s a teammate, a friend and a huge part of our football family.’

The club added: ‘Keep fighting, Imrane. Your whole football family is right behind you.’

The fundraiser page says: ‘We want to come together to show this family that they are not facing this difficult journey alone.’

Police officers remained at the property on Monday with a cordon in place.

The investigation is being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).

Extra patrols are also being carried out by officers from the Harborough and Wigston Neighbourhood Policing Area in a bid to reassure the community.

Ruth, who has lived in Thurnby for 21 years, said there has been a heavy police presence over the past 48 hours.

She said officers have searched hedgerows and undergrowth nearby, including with sniffer dogs.

Ruth said: ‘We don’t even lock our doors when we nip out, because nothing’s ever happened. But going forward, all that changes… I do lock my doors at night time.’

She added that she has felt safe because of the constant police presence.

Kanchan, 75, who has lived in the village for almost a decade, said: ‘We were really shocked, we thought it was somewhere else.’

She added: ‘I would never have thought something like this would happen. The community here is really close.

‘There are never any problems; people walk their dogs at 10pm.’

Detective Inspector Lorna Granville, from EMSOU, said on Friday: ‘This was a violent attack against a family in their own home which appears to have been completely unprovoked.’

She added: ‘I’m making a direct appeal to people in Thurnby and the surrounding communities to come forward with any information if they haven’t already done so.

‘We owe it to the victims to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice.’

Police want to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious around Station Road and Somerby Road between 11pm on Wednesday (October 7) and the early hours of Thursday (October 8).

That includes anyone who was driving in the area and captured anything on a dashcam, or who has CCTV or doorbell footage.

DI Granville added: ‘Anything you’re able to provide, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, could help us.’

Anyone with information should call Leicestershire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Donations to the fundraiser can be made via the club’s GoFundMe page here.

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