Babak Belurs: Bradford stabbing: Mother's death prompts nationwide manhunt

Senin, 08 April 2024

Bradford stabbing: Mother's death prompts nationwide manhunt - BBC

By Victoria Scheer

BBC News

Every police force in the country is looking for a man suspected of fatally stabbing a mother who was pushing her baby in a pram, officials said.

Habibur Masum, 25, is wanted after a 27-year-old woman was attacked in the Westgate area of Bradford on Saturday.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed the baby was not harmed in the attack.

West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime said Mr Masum was known to the victim and was considered "very dangerous".

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Monday, Alison Lowe said: "Habibur Masum is still at large.

"There is a very complex investigation currently ongoing with all forces in the country trying to locate the suspect.

"We don't think this was a random killing, the police know the two people were known to each other."

Specialist search teams in Westgate, Bradford

Anyone who sees Mr Masum is urged not to approach him and to phone 999 immediately.

Mr Masum, who is described as Asian and of a slim build, is from the Oldham area and is believed to have links to the Burnley and Chester areas.

CCTV footage appears to show him wearing a duffle coat with three large horizontal lines of grey, white and black, light blue or grey tracksuit bottoms with a small black emblem on the left pocket and maroon trainers.

Officers said a knife was recovered from the scene but could not confirm whether Mr Masum was armed.

'Shocked and distressed'

A large police presence was reported in Bradford's city centre over the weekend following the woman's death.

Ms Lowe said people in the community were "shocked and distressed" by what had happened.

She added: "The reason I'm speaking today is to give reassurance to that community that everything is being done to locate this suspect and to reassure them that these incidents are really rare.

"This was someone who knew the victim and is highly unlikely to be a risk to anybody else in Bradford or wider West Yorkshire."

The victim has not yet been formally identified but police said her family had been informed and was being supported by officers.