Woman Stabbed in Birmingham City Bus Shelter Attack Succumbs to Injuries
The female victim who was stabbed to her neck area in an unprovoked attack at a bus stop in Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.
The victim, aged 34 years, came under attack on Smallbrook Queensway street, just outside Bullring shopping complex, just prior to 9 PM GMT Friday evening, according to police statements.
Djeison Rafael, twenty-one, was presented at Birmingham court on Monday, charged over the attack.
Originally charged with attempted murder however after the woman's death charges were upgraded to include murder.
Law Enforcement Actions
The force said police personnel will remain in the downtown area on Monday providing public assurance, while detectives assisted the victim's relatives.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses who might have observed Mr Rafael, who is described as British citizen of Black ethnicity, and is believed to have been wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, trainers and rucksack.
Incident Location
The knife attack occurred outside Bullring retail complex, opposite primary access point of New Street railway station.
Law enforcement confirmed they were treating it as a random violent act with investigators stating they were working to understand the motive behind.
Witness Accounts
Shalini Doal, employed in the vicinity, recounted paramedic and police activity when she finished her work period around 10 PM Friday night.
She described the scene as "quite chaotic", and said some of her colleagues heard a commotion at about 21:00.
"Many co-workers take public transport, take the tram... our security is compromised essentially, here in the city centre."
Another individual, twenty-five, from Stoke-on-Trent, said he came the city fairly regularly to see his girlfriend resident there, and was concerned about what had happened.
"It makes me worried for my girlfriend," he said.
"She lacks transportation and works at major concert locations... considering a totally random act [happened], understandably, it's terrible."