Manama: Kuwaitis have expressed shock over the death of a young Kuwaiti national stabbing in a crowded mall in Kuwait City.

The victim, 24, was instantly killed by three young men, two Bidoon (residents without valid documents) and a Kuwaiti, at the Marina Mall reportedly in an argument that ended fatally.

Witnesses said that all the young men were initially embroiled in a brawl, but were separated by people at the mall. However, the argument continued on a flight of stairs where one of the assailants pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim identified by Al Anba daily as Jamal Al Enezi.

The three aggressors were arrested within hours of the murder and acting prime minister and Minister of Interior Shaikh Mohammad Al Khalid Al Sabah has expressed his appreciation for the efforts exerted by detectives and the criminal investigators with resolving the mystery.

Almost one year ago, a Lebanese dentist was killed in a mall during a heated argument.

The emotional drama at that time trigged a wave of calls for greater security at public places where young people tend to congregate, especially during the weekends.

The murder on Thursday evening has already sparked calls to make leadership changes at the interior ministry.

MP Saadoon Al Hammad said that the interior minister should support stringent measures to boost security in malls and in all public places.

MP Khalil Al Saleh warned that the security situation would deteriorate if no concrete actions were taken to improve it.

According to local daily Al Seyassah, the police were able to trace the stabbers after one of them went to a hospital to treat a wound to his hand.

“He was identified and the police quizzed him about the mall murder,” sources told the daily. “He admitted the facts and gave the names of his two accomplices. He added that the murder was not premeditated and that none of the three assailants knew the victim.”

Other reports said that the police initially arrested a group of people who were reportedly involved in the initial standoff until they zeroed in on the murderer and his two accomplices.

The police said that the three young men confessed to the murder and that they recovered the knife used in the stabbing.

The victim was buried on Friday.