Knife Angel sculpture described as 'powerful' by mum of man stabbed to death

The mum of a man who was stabbed to death a year ago has described Edinburgh’s Knife Angel as “powerful”.

The sculpture is made up of over 100,000 blades seized by police and was created by artist Alfie Bradley and the British Ironworks Centre.

The Angel, which has its hands out in a “why? gesture was put together as a reminder of the impact that knife crime can have on communities.

The statue’s wings display messages of love and remembrance from loved ones who have lost someone to knife crime, alongside messages from ex-offenders who regret carrying and using blades.

The arrival of the sculpture at the Kirkgate in Leith comes almost a year after John McNab was stabbed to death by a 16-year-old in the area.

Police Scotland

The teen attacker, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received a life sentence and was ordered to spend at least 17 years behind bars following a trial in June this year.

John’s mum, Lisa Petrie, is hoping the Knife Angel will encourage more conversation when it comes to the seriousness of knife crime.

She said: “I wouldn’t want to be standing here.

“I didn’t want to be one of those mums who have lost their sons, but I am.

“I am one of those mums who have lost their sons to murder through knife crime. Now that it’s here (the statue), it is powerful.

“We need to be more open about how serious knife crime is in our streets.”

The statue, which took two years to construct, will remain in the area between September 1 and September 27.

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