🔗 Share this article

The female victim stabbed repeatedly in the neck during a random assault near a bus shelter within Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.

The deceased woman, who was 34, was targeted in Smallbrook Queensway, just outside the Bullring shopping centre, shortly before 21:00 GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.

The suspect, 21, was presented at Birmingham Magistrates Court Monday morning, charged over the attack.

He was previously accused with attempted murder but following the woman's death charges were upgraded to murder.

Law Enforcement Actions

The force said officers would be in the downtown area on Monday providing public assurance, and investigators were supporting the woman's family.

Detectives are appealing any eyewitnesses who may have seen Mr Rafael, who is described as British citizen of Black ethnicity, reportedly dressed in an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, trainers with a backpack.

Incident Location

The knife attack occurred outside the Bullring shopping centre, opposite the main entrance to Birmingham New Street station.

Police said they were treating it as a random violent act with investigators stating they were working to understand why it happened.

Witness Accounts

An area worker, who works nearby, recounted paramedic and police activity when she finished her work period at about 22:00 Friday night.

She described the scene as "quite chaotic", and said some of her colleagues heard loud disturbances around 9 PM.

"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, mentioned visiting to Birmingham quite frequently to see his girlfriend resident there, expressing concern about what had happened.

"It makes me worried for my girlfriend," he stated.

"She doesn't drive employed at major concert locations... and to think something completely unprovoked [happened], you know, it's terrible."