A frenzied search is underway for a murder suspect after a young woman was brutally stabbed in the middle of the day.
Authorities are on the hunt for 25-year-old Habibur Masum, suspected of committing the heinous act on Saturday afternoon in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Today, police have shared images of Masum, hailing from Oldham, Greater Manchester, urging the public to come forward with any information on his whereabouts.
The tragic incident involved a 27-year-old woman, who was allegedly pushing her baby in a pram when she was viciously attacked by Masum. Reports claim he stabbed her neck four times before making his escape.
A police cordon is still in effect around the centre of Bradford, where it’s believed a knife was found on Saturday. Local greengrocer Geo Khan, 69, said of the scene: “I saw that lady was lying face down on the pavement next to a pushchair with her five-month old baby boy inside. I turned her over. There was a lot of blood and I checked for a pulse, but couldn’t find one.”
Described as an Asian male with a slim build, Masum was last seen on CCTV donning a distinctive duffle coat marked by three broad stripes in grey, white, and black, alongside light blue or grey jogging bottoms featuring a small black logo on the left pocket, and deep red trainers. An eyewitness also claimed to have spotted him in a grey hooded sweatshirt with the hood drawn up, reports the Mirror.
He is thought to have ties to Burnley in Lancashire, as well as connections in Chester.
A top cop has made a direct appeal for a suspected murderer to “give himself up immediately” after a young woman was brutally killed in broad daylight with shoppers witnessing the dreadful incident in Bradford.
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Enquiry Team, pleaded: “We have had significant resources following up a number of lines of enquiry to locate Habibur Masum but at this time his whereabouts are unknown.”
The detective added: “A knife was recovered from the scene of the murder, but we cannot say if Habibur Masum is armed, and I would urge anyone who does see him not to approach him but to call 999 immediately.”
She also urged that if “anyone has any information about his movements or whereabouts since 3:20pm on Saturday please contact police as a matter of urgency”.
She continued: “We understand that the murder of a young woman in such shocking circumstances has caused considerable concern in the local community.
“Residents can expect to continue to see a significant police presence in Bradford as we make further enquiries and conduct reassurance patrols in the area.”
In an earlier statement, DCI Atkinson described the dreadful episode as “shocking”, concluded: “This is a shocking incident that has happened in broad daylight in a busy area of Bradford and been witnessed by a number of people.”
Meanwhile, Mr Khan, who discovered the victim, shared his experience with The Sun stating he observed knife wounds to the woman’s neck and tried his best to save her life by giving CPR until paramedics arrived.
The community has been left reeling after a woman’s tragic death, with heartfelt tributes pouring in online. One person expressed their sorrow, saying: “This is so sad, we were within half a mile of this happening today. It’s really made me feel heartbroken for the young woman.”
Another lamented on Facebook: “So sad a young woman has lost her life. I feel sorry for her family and anyone who witnessed it.”
Bradford City ward councillors Aneela Ahmed, Nazam Azam, and Shakeela Lal released a joint statement expressing their devastation. They said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by yesterday’s incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deceased. We would urge anyone who has any information relating to the incident, to contact the police on the information provided.”
A significant police cordon remains in place at the scene, with residents voicing their dismay. One local said: “It’s just awful, horrific news. It’s scary. My thoughts are with her friends and family.”
Another resident was at a loss for words: “It’s just shocking. There are no other words.”
A woman present at the scene commented: “The poor girl and her family. We need more police in the area. I don’t feel safe.”
The shock has also spread across social media, where locals have been sharing their grief. One post read: “So sad RIP young lady. My thoughts go out to all the family and friends.”
Another message reflected the sombre mood: “What a sad world we live in, RIP young lady.”
If anyone spots Habibur Masum, they should immediately contact West Yorkshire Police on 999. For any other information that could aid the investigation, please report via Live Chat online or by calling 101, quoting log 1071 of 6 April.
