A 13-year-old British boy named Alfie Howlett was stabbed to death in Portugal on 24 December 2025, with his mother suffering injuries in the attack by her partner, who had a prior conviction for homicide; she later expressed wishing she had died instead of her son.
Alfie Howlett, a 13-year-old British teenager, was fatally stabbed in the town of Cathis near Tomar, Portugal, on Wednesday 24 December 2025, by his mother’s partner, who also injured the boy’s 43-year-old mother; Portuguese police confirmed the incident and noted the suspect’s previous prison sentence for aggravated homicide.
Tragic Stabbing Incident Near Tomar
According to BBC News reporting by Jonathan Josephs, the incident occurred in Cathis, a location on the outskirts of Tomar approximately two hours north of Lisbon, where 13-year-old British boy Alfie Howlett was stabbed to death. Portuguese police issued a statement confirming the death of the boy from stab wounds, while local media identified him as Alfie Howlett or Alfie Hallet and noted his mother was a 43-year-old English woman who received hospital treatment for injuries sustained in the attack.
As reported by Jonathan Josephs for BBC News, Portuguese police stated the boy was indeed stabbed to death following the incident in the city outskirts.
Background on Suspect and Family History
Portuguese police revealed that the perpetrator had previously served a prison sentence for aggravated homicide, according to details reported in local media and confirmed in the BBC News coverage. The family had been flagged by authorities due to registered cases of domestic violence in recent years, with police noting signs that the mother had been assaulted in the attack.
Police Confirmation and Local Reporting
BBC News, citing Portuguese police and local media, reported that the 43-year-old mother showed signs of having been assaulted, aligning with the history of domestic violence cases involving the family. Jonathan Josephs for BBC News stated that reports from Portugal confirmed a teenage British boy had been stabbed to death in the incident.
Implications and Ongoing Investigation
Portuguese police have confirmed the suspect’s prior conviction and the family’s history of domestic violence registrations, indicating an ongoing investigation into the fatal stabbing on 24 December 2025. No further arrests or charges were detailed in available reports from BBC News, with local media focusing on the confirmation of the boy’s identity and the mother’s hospital treatment.
Alfie Howlett, the 13-year-old British boy, died from stab wounds in Cathis near Tomar, Portugal, on 24 December 2025, in an attack by his mother’s partner who had a previous homicide conviction, while the injured mother received medical care following the incident flagged by prior domestic violence cases, as confirmed by Portuguese police and reported by BBC News and local outlets.
