[ad_1]
Media playback is not supported by your device
Images have been released of a man suspected of killing one person and injuring seven others in a series of stabbings in Birmingham city center.
The attacks in the early hours sparked a massive police chase of the suspect.
A 23-year-old man was killed on Irving Street at 01:50 BST, West Midlands police said. A man and a woman, aged 19 and 32, suffered serious injuries.
Five other people, aged 23 to 33, were also injured.
They were taken to the hospital and so far two have been discharged.
Image copyright
West Midlands Police
The public is urged to remain vigilant and stay away from the man in the photo.
CCTV footage shows a man in a baseball cap and a dark hoodie with white drawstrings.
Also wearing dark colored pants and shoes, he can be seen standing and walking in a corner.
“At this stage we believe the attacks were random and we have no indication of a motive,” said Ch Supt Steve Graham, who urged the public to remain vigilant.
“We are calling for anyone who recognizes the man in the images to contact us immediately. If you see him, please do not approach him, but dial 999 immediately.”
‘Impact on the city’
West Midlands Police were called first to Constitution Hill where a man sustained a superficial injury just after 12:30 BST, then to Livery Street 20 minutes later, where the 19-year-old man was seriously injured and a woman was also injured. wound.
An hour later, at 01:50 BST, police were dispatched to Irving Street, where the 23-year-old died and another man sustained serious injuries.
Ten minutes later, they were called to Hurst Street, where the 32-year-old woman was seriously injured and two men suffered minor injuries.
- Manhunt as one dead and seven wounded in stabbings
- How it happened: updates on Birmingham stabbings
The stabbings do not appear to be related to terrorism or gangs, police said.
Mr. Graham added: “We do not underestimate the impact these incidents have had on the city of Birmingham today.
“We declare this to be a major incident at the earliest opportunity and have recruited dozens of officers to assist with the investigation and patrol the city to assure residents and visitors that we are doing everything possible to arrest the person responsible.”
Image copyright
PA media
A cordon remains in place in the stabbing scenes
Several witnesses have described seeing the attacks, including a restaurant owner who said the suspect quietly walked away after repeatedly stabbing a woman.
Savvas Sfrantzis from the Mykonos Bar and Grill said: “I looked at him, right in front of him, and I can see that he had a blade, small, not very big, and he was stabbing her in the neck.
“She was very cold and she didn’t panic and she didn’t react or anything. After stabbing her five to seven times … she left like nothing had happened.”
Image copyright
PA media
Downtown areas have been cordoned off
Officers recovered a knife from a drain, but Graham said it was “too early” to say if it was related to the case.
At a previous press conference, he was asked how the man with the knife was able to move around the city center for more than two hours without being caught.
Graham said the suspect’s route through the city was “relatively unusual.”
He added: “There was no suggestion that people had seen him run away, the area was being searched at the time, the subject was unfortunately not captured.”
Force police and crime commissioner David Jamieson called the assaults “disturbing,” and the violence unfolded as revelers enjoyed the night.
Were you in the area? Did you witness what happened? Share your experiences by sending an email [email protected].
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
- WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
- Cheep: @BBC_HaveYourSay
- Read our terms and conditions and privacy policy.
[ad_2]
