Female Victim Stabbed in Birmingham Bus Shelter Attack Succumbs to Injuries
A woman who was stabbed in the neck in an unprovoked attack near a bus shelter within Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.
The deceased woman, aged 34 years, came under attack on Smallbrook Queensway street, right beside the Bullring shopping centre, just prior to 9 PM GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.
The suspect, 21, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court Monday morning, facing charges for the attack.
Originally charged with attempted murder however after the woman's death charges were upgraded to include murder.
Law Enforcement Actions
The force said officers would be around the city centre on Monday to offer reassurance, and investigators were supporting the woman's family.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the accused, identified as a Black British national, and is believed to have been wearing grey athletic wear, black hat, trainers and rucksack.
Incident Location
The knife attack occurred outside the Bullring shopping centre, opposite the main entrance of New Street railway station.
Law enforcement confirmed they classified it as a random violent act and Det Insp James Nix said they were working to understand why it happened.
Eyewitness Reports
Shalini Doal, employed in the vicinity, described paramedic and police activity when she finished her shift at about 22:00 Friday night.
She described the scene as "quite chaotic", and said some of her colleagues heard a commotion around 9 PM.
"Many my colleagues take public transport, take the tram... our security is compromised fundamentally, here in the city centre."
Ashley Birks, 25, resident of Stoke, said he came the city quite frequently to see his girlfriend who lives in the city, expressing concern about what had happened.
"It causes concern about my partner," he said.
"She doesn't drive employed at major concert locations... and to think a totally random act [happened], you know, it's horrible."
