Female Victim Knifed in Birmingham City Bus Shelter Assault Succumbs to Injuries
The female victim stabbed repeatedly to her neck area in an unprovoked attack at a bus stop within Birmingham has died, authorities verified.
The victim, aged 34 years, was targeted on Smallbrook Queensway street, right beside the Bullring shopping centre, shortly before 9 PM GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.
The suspect, twenty-one, was presented at Birmingham court Monday morning, charged over the attack.
Originally charged with attempted murder however after the victim's passing the charge has been updated to include murder.
Police Response
The force said police personnel will remain around the city centre on Monday to offer reassurance, while detectives assisted the woman's family.
Investigators are requesting for witnesses who may have seen Mr Rafael, who is described as a Black British national, and is believed to have been wearing grey athletic wear, black hat, athletic shoes with a backpack.
Incident Location
The stabbing happened near the Bullring shopping centre, across from the main entrance of New Street railway station.
Police said they classified it as "unprovoked attack" with investigators stating efforts continue to determine the motive behind.
Eyewitness Reports
An area worker, who works nearby, recounted paramedic and police activity when she finished her shift at about 22:00 on Friday.
She characterized the location as "quite chaotic", and said co-workers reported hearing loud disturbances at about 21:00.
"A lot of my colleagues use transit services, ride the tramline... our safety is at risk fundamentally, in the downtown area."
Another individual, twenty-five, from Stoke-on-Trent, mentioned visiting the city fairly regularly to see his girlfriend resident there, expressing concern regarding the incident.
"It causes concern about my partner," he said.
"She lacks transportation employed at major concert locations... and to think something completely unprovoked [happened], understandably, it's horrible."
