Woman Knifed in Birmingham City Bus Shelter Attack Succumbs to Injuries
A woman stabbed repeatedly to her neck area during a random assault near a bus shelter within Birmingham has passed away, police have confirmed.
The deceased woman, who was 34, was targeted in Smallbrook Queensway, right beside the Bullring shopping centre, just prior to 9 PM GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.
Djeison Rafael, twenty-one, appeared before Birmingham court on Monday, charged over the attack.
Originally charged with attempted murder but following the victim's passing charges were upgraded to murder.
Police Response
The force said officers would be around the city centre on Monday providing public assurance, while detectives assisted the victim's relatives.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses who might have observed Mr Rafael, identified as British citizen of Black ethnicity, and is believed to have been wearing grey athletic wear, black hat, trainers with a backpack.
Attack Site Details
The stabbing happened near Bullring retail complex, across from the main entrance to Birmingham New Street station.
Police said they were treating it as "unprovoked attack" with investigators stating they were working to understand why it happened.
Eyewitness Reports
An area worker, who works nearby, described paramedic and police activity after completing her shift at about 22:00 on Friday.
She characterized the location as "quite chaotic", and said co-workers reported hearing a commotion at about 21:00.
"A lot of my colleagues use transit services, ride the tramline... our safety is at risk essentially, here in the city centre."
Ashley Birks, 25, from Stoke-on-Trent, said he came to Birmingham fairly regularly to see his girlfriend who lives in the city, and was concerned regarding the incident.
"It makes me worried about my partner," he said.
"She doesn't drive employed at major concert locations... and to think something completely unprovoked occurred, understandably, it's terrible."
