Woman Knifed in Birmingham City Bus Shelter Attack Succumbs to Injuries
A woman stabbed repeatedly to her neck area in an unprovoked attack near a bus shelter in Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.
The victim, who was 34, was targeted on Smallbrook Queensway street, just outside Bullring shopping complex, shortly before 9 PM GMT Friday evening, West Midlands Police said.
Djeison Rafael, twenty-one, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court Monday morning, charged over the attack.
He was previously accused with attempted murder however after the woman's death charges were upgraded to murder.
Police Response
Authorities stated officers would be in the downtown area on Monday to offer reassurance, and investigators were supporting the woman's family.
Investigators are requesting any eyewitnesses who might have observed the accused, who is described as a Black British national, reportedly dressed in an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, athletic shoes and rucksack.
Incident Location
The stabbing happened outside the Bullring shopping centre, across from the main entrance of New Street railway station.
Law enforcement confirmed they were treating it as "unprovoked attack" and Det Insp James Nix said efforts continue to determine the motive behind.
Eyewitness Reports
An area worker, employed in the vicinity, described paramedic and police activity when she finished her shift around 10 PM Friday night.
She described the scene as "quite chaotic", adding that some of her colleagues heard a commotion around 9 PM.
"Many co-workers take public transport, take the tram... our safety is at risk fundamentally, in the downtown area."
Another individual, twenty-five, resident of Stoke, said he came to Birmingham fairly regularly to see his girlfriend who lives in the city, and was concerned regarding the incident.
"It causes concern for my girlfriend," he said.
"She doesn't drive and works at all of the big music venues... and to think a totally random act [happened], you know, it's horrible."
