Woman Stabbed in Birmingham Bus Stop Attack Dies
A woman who was stabbed to her neck area during a random assault 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 the Bullring shopping centre, just prior to 21:00 GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.
Djeison Rafael, twenty-one, appeared before Birmingham court on Monday, facing charges for the attack.
Originally charged of attempted murder however after the woman's death the charge has been updated to murder.
Police Response
The force said officers would be in the downtown area on Monday providing public assurance, while detectives assisted the victim's relatives.
Investigators are requesting any eyewitnesses who might have observed Mr Rafael, identified as a Black British national, reportedly dressed in grey athletic wear, black hat, athletic shoes and rucksack.
Incident Location
The stabbing happened near Bullring retail complex, across from the main entrance of New Street railway station.
Law enforcement confirmed they were treating it as "unprovoked attack" and Det Insp James Nix said they were working to understand why it happened.
Witness Accounts
Shalini Doal, who works nearby, described paramedic and police activity when she finished her shift around 10 PM Friday night.
She characterized the location as "quite chaotic", and said some of her colleagues heard a commotion around 9 PM.
"A lot of co-workers take public transport, take the tram... our safety is at risk fundamentally, here in the city centre."
Another individual, 25, resident of Stoke, said he came to Birmingham fairly regularly to see his girlfriend who lives in the city, expressing concern about what had happened.
"It makes me worried for my girlfriend," he said.
"She lacks transportation employed at all of the big music venues... and to think a totally random act [happened], understandably, it's terrible."
