Woman Stabbed in Birmingham City Bus Shelter Attack Succumbs to Injuries
The female victim stabbed repeatedly in the neck during a random assault at a bus stop within Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.
The victim, aged 34 years, came under attack on Smallbrook Queensway street, just outside Bullring shopping complex, shortly before 9 PM GMT Friday evening, West Midlands Police said.
The suspect, 21, was presented at Birmingham court on Monday, charged over the attack.
He was previously accused with attempted murder however after the woman's death charges were upgraded to murder.
Law Enforcement Actions
The force said officers would be in the downtown area on Monday to offer reassurance, while detectives assisted the woman's family.
Investigators are requesting any eyewitnesses who may have seen the accused, who is described as British citizen of Black ethnicity, and is believed to have been wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, trainers with a backpack.
Incident Location
The knife attack occurred outside Bullring retail complex, across from the main entrance to Birmingham New Street station.
Police said they were treating it as a random violent act and Det Insp James Nix said efforts continue to determine the motive behind.
Witness Accounts
Shalini Doal, who works nearby, described the emergency response when she finished her shift at about 22:00 Friday night.
She described the scene as extremely disorderly, and said co-workers reported hearing a commotion around 9 PM.
"Many my colleagues use transit services, take the tram... our safety is at risk fundamentally, here in the city centre."
Ashley Birks, 25, resident of Stoke, said he came to Birmingham quite frequently visiting his partner who lives in the city, and was concerned about what had happened.
"It makes me worried for my girlfriend," he said.
"She doesn't drive and works at all of the big music venues... and to think something completely unprovoked [happened], understandably, it's terrible."
