A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a mum was stabbed to death in front of her baby son.
Kulsama Akter, 27, was knifed in broad daylight in Bradford city centre on Saturday afternoon.
GuzelianA young mum was knifed to death in Bradford on Saturday afternoon – with her killer fleeing the scene[/caption]
PAOfficers named Habibur Masum as a fugitive they were hunting following the attack[/caption]
Ben LackForensic officers have been combing the street where a 27-year-old mum was killed[/caption]
The 27-year-old was walking with her baby boy in a pram when she was ambushed.
Police launched a manhunt for the suspect after he fled the scene but confirmed a 25-year-old man has now been arrested.
The suspect was held in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in the early hours of the morning.
Police yesterday arrested a man, 23, on suspicion of assisting an offender.
It comes after officers named Habibur Masum as a fugitive they were hunting following the attack.
Masum is the dad of the baby boy who was in the pram when his mum was stabbed to death.
Both Masum and Kulsuma were known to cops, with Greater Manchester Police referring itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over previous contact with the pair.
Detective Superintendent Jude Holmes from GMP Oldham district said: “We share the shock and concern that our communities feel in the wake of this tragic incident, and our thoughts are with Kulsuma Akter’s family at this truly distressing time.
“Habibur Masum is wanted by West Yorkshire Police on suspicion of murder. Due to his links to Greater Manchester, we have our specialist officers following several lines of enquiry to locate him.
“I urge members of the public to remain vigilant, and if you have any information on his whereabouts, call 999 as a matter of urgency.”
The horror unfolded at the junction with Drewton Road, Westgate around 3.21pm on Saturday.
A brave shopkeeper ran out to try to save the woman after hearing her screaming in the street.
Geo Khan said: “I was sitting in my shop and heard screaming.
Her baby is safe and well and was not harmed in this incident.
Damien Miller
“I came out and I tried to check the pulse. There was no pulse.
“Blood was all over on the floor and there were stab wounds in her neck.”
Tragically the woman couldn’t be saved but her baby survived.
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said the “horrendous” attack happened in broad daylight in front of terrified onlookers.
She urged witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward urgently and said Bradford had been left in shock.
DCI Atkinson said: “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.
“A young woman has lost her life in the most awful circumstances, and we have extensive enquiries ongoing to locate and arrest the man responsible.
“We understand that this incident will understandably cause concern in the local community.
“I would like to reassure the wider public that we are working tirelessly to investigate this horrendous crime and bring the person responsible to justice.
Blood was all over on the floor and there were stab wounds in her neck.
Geo Khan
“To help us with this we are urging anyone who was in the area who may have dashcam footage or seen or heard something, however small it may seem, to please come forward.
“A scene remains in place which includes some road closures and I thank the public for their patience while we conduct our enquiries.”
If anyone witnessed this incident or has any relevant dashcam footage, they are urged to contact police via Live Chat online or by calling 101, quoting log 1072 of 6 April.
Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Tributes to mum after ‘really shocking’ killing
She sent her condolences to the woman’s loved ones and urged anyone with any information to get in touch with police.
One resident speaking at the scene said: “It’s just awful, horrific news.
“It’s scary. My thoughts are with her friends and family.”
Another added: “It’s just shocking. There are no other words.”
One woman at the scene said: “The poor girl and her family. We need more police in the area. I don’t feel safe.”
Other local residents have been expressing their shock on social media.
One woman wrote on Facebook: “So sad RIP young lady. My thoughts go out to all the family and friends.”
Another added: “What a sad world we live in, RIP young lady.”
GuzelianThey remained at the scene for hours after the horror attack[/caption]
MEN MediaMuch of the Westgate area remains cordoned off[/caption]