Woman Stabbed in Birmingham Bus Stop Attack Succumbs to Injuries
The female victim who was stabbed to her neck area in an unprovoked attack at a bus stop within Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.
The victim, who was 34, was targeted in Smallbrook Queensway, right beside Bullring shopping complex, just prior to 21:00 GMT Friday evening, West Midlands Police said.
The suspect, twenty-one, was presented at Birmingham Magistrates Court Monday morning, charged over the attack.
Originally charged of attempted murder but following the victim's passing charges were upgraded to include murder.
Police Response
The force said police personnel will remain in the downtown area through Monday to offer reassurance, while detectives assisted the woman's family.
Investigators are requesting any eyewitnesses who may have seen Mr Rafael, who is described as British citizen of Black ethnicity, and is believed to have been wearing grey athletic wear, dark headwear, trainers and rucksack.
Incident Location
The stabbing happened near the Bullring shopping centre, opposite the main entrance of New Street railway station.
Police said they classified it as a random violent act and Det Insp James Nix said they were working to understand the motive behind.
Eyewitness Reports
An area worker, employed in the vicinity, recounted the emergency response when she finished her work period at about 22:00 on Friday.
She described the scene as extremely disorderly, adding that some of her colleagues heard loud disturbances at about 21:00.
"Many my colleagues take public transport, take the tram... our security is compromised fundamentally, in the downtown area."
Another individual, 25, from Stoke-on-Trent, mentioned visiting the city fairly regularly visiting his partner who lives in the city, expressing concern regarding the incident.
"It makes me worried about my partner," he said.
"She doesn't drive and works at all of the big music venues... and to think something completely unprovoked occurred, understandably, it's terrible."
