A chilling police map has laid bare how north Birmingham has been carved into deadly gang territories, as a 17-year-old was convicted of murdering a rival gang member in Handsworth. Oumar Traore stabbed to death Yassin Alama, 19, in a knife fight that erupted from a social media feud between their respective gangs.
Police Map Reveals Modern Gang Territories
The West Midlands Police map, shown to a jury during the murder trial, illustrates how today's gangs have inherited the territories once claimed by the infamous Burger Bar Boys and Johnson Crew. Pc Gareth Evans, who has worked in Birmingham gang intelligence since 2010, confirmed the colours on the map were significant identifiers used by rival groups. “The Burgers and Johnsons no longer existed with their members either dead, in jail, lying low or just older and perhaps wiser,” he said during the trial.
Today's gangs include the menacingly named Armed Response (AR) controlling Handsworth, Hockley and Winson Green, whilst rival groups like 9Boyz and Get Money Gang operate in Newtown, Lozells, Aston and Erdington. These younger, more volatile gangsters often don't understand the history behind their territories but willingly risk their lives to uphold deadly traditions.
Social Media Feud Led to Fatal Stabbing
The fatal conflict began when Yassin's 14-year-old brother mocked deaths of B20 gang members on Snapchat, including Traore's cousin Sekou Doucoure. Traore retaliated by tracking down and filming himself chasing the younger boy through a shop, which escalated into the deadly confrontation. The case highlights how social media has become central to modern gang culture, with violence fuelled by bragging and goading in drill rap videos and posts.
Gang Violence Continues to Plague Birmingham
According to West Midlands Police, the map was produced as part of ongoing efforts to understand and combat gang-related crime in the city. The force has emphasised that while the historic Burger Bar Boys and Johnson Crew are largely defunct, their successors have proven equally dangerous. The conviction of Traore, who was 17 at the time of the murder, underscores the youth of those involved in such violence.
