Woman Stabbed in Birmingham City Bus Stop Assault Dies
A woman who was stabbed to her neck area during a random assault at a bus stop in Birmingham has passed away, police have confirmed.
The victim, aged 34 years, came under attack in Smallbrook Queensway, just outside Bullring shopping complex, just prior to 21:00 GMT on Friday, according to police statements.
Djeison Rafael, twenty-one, was presented at Birmingham court on Monday, facing charges for the attack.
Originally charged with attempted murder but following 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.
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 grey athletic wear, black hat, trainers and rucksack.
Attack Site Details
The stabbing happened outside the Bullring shopping centre, across from primary access point of New Street railway station.
Law enforcement confirmed they were treating it as a random violent act and Det Insp James Nix said they were working to understand why it happened.
Witness Accounts
Shalini Doal, employed in the vicinity, described paramedic and police activity when she finished her work period at about 22:00 Friday night.
She characterized the location as "quite chaotic", and said co-workers reported hearing loud disturbances around 9 PM.
"Many my colleagues take public transport, take the tram... our safety is at risk fundamentally, in the downtown area."
Another individual, twenty-five, from Stoke-on-Trent, mentioned visiting to Birmingham quite frequently to see his girlfriend resident there, and was concerned about what had happened.
"It makes me worried for my girlfriend," he stated.
"She doesn't drive employed at all of the big music venues... considering something completely unprovoked [happened], you know, it's horrible."
