Female Victim Stabbed in Birmingham Bus Shelter Attack Dies
The female victim stabbed repeatedly to her neck area in an unprovoked attack near a bus shelter within Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.
The deceased woman, aged 34 years, was targeted on Smallbrook Queensway street, just outside Bullring shopping complex, just prior to 21:00 GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.
The suspect, 21, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court Monday morning, charged over the violent incident.
He was previously accused with attempted murder but following the victim's passing charges were upgraded to murder.
Police Response
The force said police personnel will remain around the city centre on Monday to offer reassurance, and investigators were supporting the woman's family.
Investigators are requesting any eyewitnesses who may have seen Mr Rafael, who is described as British citizen of Black ethnicity, reportedly dressed in grey athletic wear, black hat, trainers with a backpack.
Incident Location
The stabbing happened near Bullring retail complex, opposite primary access point of New Street railway station.
Police said they classified it as "unprovoked attack" with investigators stating they were working to understand why it happened.
Witness Accounts
An area worker, who works nearby, recounted the emergency response when she finished her shift at about 22:00 on Friday.
She characterized the location as "quite chaotic", and said some of her colleagues heard loud disturbances around 9 PM.
"Many my colleagues take public transport, take the tram... our safety is at risk essentially, in the downtown area."
Ashley Birks, twenty-five, from Stoke-on-Trent, said he came the city quite frequently visiting his partner who lives in the city, expressing concern about what had happened.
"It makes me worried about my partner," he stated.
"She doesn't drive and works at major concert locations... and to think a totally random act occurred, understandably, it's horrible."
