A man has been charged with murder after a woman who was stabbed in the neck in Birmingham city centre on Friday night died from her injuries.
Katie Fox was taken to hospital with a serious neck wound after the attack outside the entrance to Birmingham New Street station shortly before 9pm.
West Midlands police said the 34-year-old woman, who was in a critical condition, had since died.
A man arrested close to the scene of the attack appeared in court on Monday. Djeison Rafael, 21, was charged initially with attempted murder and remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham magistrates court.
After Fox’s death, police made an application to change the charge to murder. Rafael was also charged with two counts of actual bodily harm, one of which relates to an incident a week earlier, possession of a Stanley knife and assaulting an emergency worker.
West Midlands police said in a statement: “Extra officers will be around Birmingham city centre to offer reassurance as we understand this is a worrying incident.
“We are still keen to hear from anyone who knows more about what happened or the movements of Rafael, who we believe was wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, trainers and rucksack on Friday evening (7 November).”
Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack on Smallbrook Queensway, a busy road adjacent to Birmingham New Street, one of the country’s largest and busiest stations.
The road was closed after the attack on Friday and a police tent remained in place over the weekend, with buses being diverted.
Appealing for witnesses on Saturday, DI James Nix said: “We believe this was an unprovoked attack and are working to understand why it happened. We will have officers in the area today to continue our investigation and provide reassurance.
“We are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.”
The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, thanked the police’s “swift efforts” in making an arrest. She wrote on X on Sunday night: “I am shocked to hear a woman was stabbed in Birmingham in an unprovoked attack. My thoughts are with the victim, her family and friends.
“I thank the police for their swift action to arrest a suspect. I urge any witnesses to contact West Midlands Police.”
Witnesses or anyone with information have been asked to contact West Midlands police by calling 101 and quoting log 5503 of 7 November or visiting the major incident public portal.
