🔗 Share this article

The female victim stabbed repeatedly to her neck area during a random assault at a bus stop within Birmingham has died, police have confirmed.

The victim, aged 34 years, was targeted on Smallbrook Queensway street, right beside the Bullring shopping centre, shortly before 9 PM GMT on Friday, West Midlands Police said.

Djeison Rafael, twenty-one, was presented at Birmingham court on Monday, charged over the attack.

He was previously accused of attempted murder but following the victim's passing charges were upgraded to murder.

Law Enforcement Actions

The force said police personnel will remain in the downtown area on Monday to offer reassurance, while detectives assisted the victim's relatives.

Investigators are requesting any eyewitnesses 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, athletic shoes with a backpack.

Attack Site Details

The stabbing happened near the Bullring shopping centre, opposite primary access point to Birmingham New Street station.

Police said they were treating it as a random violent act and Det Insp James Nix said they were working to understand the motive behind.

Eyewitness Reports

An area worker, employed in the vicinity, described paramedic and police activity after completing her work period around 10 PM on Friday.

She characterized the location as extremely disorderly, and said co-workers reported hearing a commotion around 9 PM.

"A lot of co-workers take public transport, take the tram... our safety is at risk essentially, in the downtown area."

Another individual, twenty-five, resident of Stoke, mentioned visiting the city fairly regularly visiting his partner resident there, and was concerned about what had happened.

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

"She doesn't drive and works at major concert locations... considering something completely unprovoked [happened], understandably, it's terrible."