Library of Birmingham (Image: Getty Images)

Birmingham city centre tragedy as dad falls to his death while trying to 'share message' with city

by · Birmingham Live

A dad-of-three fell to his death from the Library of Birmingham in a tragic accident while 'trying to share his message', an inquest heard. Negash Masho Abdelkadar, an American national seeking aslyum in the UK, lost his footing and fell 40ft to the floor outside the landmark city centre building.

Members of the public inside the library and in Centenary Square witnessed the fall before emergency services rushed to cordon off the busy area. The 58-year-old's final moments were caught on CCTV at 1.15pm on August 5 this year.

Mr Abdelkadar, who moved to the UK in 2016, had been denied asylum, along with the right to work. He was seeking help from US and British authorities at the time and was trying to attach a flag to the library which read "liberty without justice is slavery", Birmingham Coroner's Court heard on Thursday, November 21.

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The dad-of-three had a long history of depression and had, years before, made threats to jump from the Library of Birmingham. As he sought aslyum, he carried out "hunger strikes" and also told immigration officers he would rather "commit suicide" than be deported back to America.

But he had not seen mental health services for more than two years before his death, with his final appointment in June 2022. Before the tragedy, he also made a "significant" move to take off his jacket and bag, but keep the flag with him, the court heard.

Assistant coroner Mrs Rebecca Ollivere said "suicide should never be assumed" as she concluded accidental death and ruled out suicide. She told the court: "Suicide should never be assumed. I must consider what was in his mind at the time he climbed over the balcony. I have no doubt that he climbed over the barrier deliberately.

"Negash had taken off his coat and bag, but kept the flag with him. This is believed to be significant. The CCTV shows him slip between the barrier.

Why journalists cover inquests

Journalists are always allowed to go to inquests and are allowed to report anything which is said in court. Many journalists report inquests as part of the principle of ‘open justice’.

The purpose of open justice and reporting from inquests is to: make sure that the public understands the reasons why someone has died, make sure that deaths are not kept secret, draw attention to circumstances which may lead to more deaths or injuries and to prevent this from happening and clear up any rumours or suspicion about the death.

"I can say on the balance of probabilities, in my judgement it is more likely that he was attempting to attach the flag to the building in an attempt to share his message." His cause of death was recorded as multiple injuries caused from a fall from height. A post-mortem examination found there no alcohol or drugs in his system.

In a sudden death report, Pc Daniel Betts said: "As per the CCTV, a male can be seen to climb over a barrier. There is no third party involvement. He falls 40ft from the roof, suffering major cranium destruction. It is unclear why the male has fallen at this time.

"There was a flag found in his possession on the floor which read 'liberty in the absence of justice is slavery' and has his name at the bottom." A jacket also displayed the same flag, the court heard.

Negash Masho started a change.org petition as his aslyum case 'dragged on'

Mr Abdelkadar's mental health had started to decline when he suffered business setbacks in America. But he didn't access mental health services until his move to the UK 2016. He was unemployed as he 'was not allowed to work or volunteer' while seeking aslyum and was living in shared accommodation.

In 2020, he took himself to A&E with a fractured ankle suffered during an attempt to hang himself, the hearing heard. During further assessments, he told his GP he was living in shared accommodation, received £40-a-week in benefits and food vouchers, but was "unhappy about current situation as he cannot work or be allowed to volunteer," the court was told.

He also made a threat to "jump off the Library of Birmingham" in 2018. His final assessment for his mental health took place in June 2022, with no further contact with the services before his death. Donna Cornish, executive officer for the Home Office, said he had sought aslyum from 2016.

During an interview with an immigration officer, he told them "if he was returned to the USA, he would rather commit suicide", the inquest heard. "Details show he displays evidence of depression, it was determined he would not be fit to fly or leave the UK," Ms Cornish said.

His asylum was refused on a number of occasions, with asylum support stopped, then started again on medical grounds. "Negash had no valid right to remain in the United Kingdom," she said. There were rumours that suggested he may have remarried through the mosque of Birmingham in an attempt to secure residency in the UK, the court heard. But nothing could be confirmed, the court was told.

Mr Abdelkadar, a former business owner in the US, had launched a change.org petition with the same branding years earlier in the midst of a hunger strike, which lasted for at least 25 days. The court heard he visited the A&E three times in the summer of 2022 to complain of various chest and back pain as he refused to eat. His final appointment was that year and the NHS had no further record for him.

Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to face it alone. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org for more information