Woman Knifed in Birmingham Bus Stop Assault Succumbs to Injuries
The female victim who was stabbed in the neck in an unprovoked attack at a bus stop in Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.
The victim, who was 34, was targeted in Smallbrook Queensway, right beside Bullring shopping complex, just prior to 21:00 GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.
Djeison Rafael, 21, was presented at Birmingham court Monday morning, charged over the attack.
Originally charged of attempted murder but following the victim's passing charges were upgraded to include murder.
Law Enforcement Actions
The force said police personnel will remain in the downtown area through Monday providing public assurance, and investigators were supporting the woman's family.
Detectives are appealing any eyewitnesses who might have observed the accused, who is described as British citizen of Black ethnicity, reportedly dressed in grey athletic wear, dark headwear, athletic shoes and rucksack.
Incident Location
The stabbing happened outside the Bullring shopping centre, across from primary access point of New Street railway station.
Law enforcement confirmed they classified it as "unprovoked attack" and Det Insp James Nix said they were working to understand the motive behind.
Eyewitness Reports
Shalini Doal, employed in the vicinity, described paramedic and police activity after completing her work period around 10 PM on Friday.
She characterized the location as extremely disorderly, and said some of her colleagues heard loud disturbances at about 21:00.
"A lot of my colleagues take public transport, take the tram... our safety is at risk fundamentally, in the downtown area."
Ashley Birks, twenty-five, from Stoke-on-Trent, mentioned visiting to Birmingham fairly regularly to see his girlfriend resident there, expressing concern regarding the incident.
"It makes me worried for my girlfriend," he said.
"She doesn't drive employed at major concert locations... and to think a totally random act occurred, understandably, it's terrible."
