Female Victim Knifed in Birmingham City Bus Shelter Attack Succumbs to Injuries
The female victim stabbed repeatedly in the neck during a random assault near a bus shelter in Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.
The victim, aged 34 years, came under attack in Smallbrook Queensway, right beside Bullring shopping complex, just prior to 9 PM GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.
The suspect, 21, was presented at Birmingham court Monday morning, facing charges for the violent incident.
Originally charged of attempted murder but following the victim's passing charges were upgraded to murder.
Police Response
The force said officers would be in the downtown area through Monday to offer reassurance, and investigators were supporting the victim's relatives.
Detectives are appealing any eyewitnesses who might have observed Mr Rafael, identified as British citizen of Black ethnicity, and is believed to have been wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, athletic shoes and rucksack.
Incident Location
The knife attack occurred near Bullring retail complex, across from primary access point to Birmingham New Street station.
Law enforcement confirmed they were treating it as "unprovoked attack" and Det Insp James Nix said they were working to understand the motive behind.
Witness Accounts
An area worker, who works nearby, recounted paramedic and police activity when she finished her work period around 10 PM on Friday.
She described the scene as "quite chaotic", and said co-workers reported hearing loud disturbances at about 21:00.
"A lot of co-workers take public transport, take the tram... our security is compromised fundamentally, in the downtown area."
Ashley Birks, twenty-five, from Stoke-on-Trent, said he came the city quite frequently to see his girlfriend resident there, and was concerned about what had happened.
"It causes concern about my partner," he stated.
"She lacks transportation and works at all of the big music venues... considering a totally random act occurred, understandably, it's terrible."