Bradford manhunt continues over fatal stabbing of woman pushing baby in pram

Police are continuing to search for Habibur Masum and have warned the public not to approach him.

Monday 8 April 2024 16:52, UK

A manhunt continues after the fatal stabbing of a woman who was pushing a baby in a pram.

West Yorkshire Police released images of a man wanted over the attack in the centre of Bradford at 3.21pm on Saturday.

Habibur Masum, 25, is from the Oldham area and has links to Burnley and Chester. He is described as an Asian man, of slim build.

Officers were called after reports a woman had been stabbed by a man who then fled the scene.

She was taken to hospital where she subsequently died of her injuries.

The victim is yet to be formally identified but is understood to be 27 years old.

Masum was pictured on CCTV 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.

A witness also reported seeing him wearing a grey hoodie with the hood up.

Sky News has spoken to a shopkeeper who said the victim was pushing a baby in a pram when she was attacked.

He ran over to try to help the woman.

"She was on the ground. I tried... there was me, and another guy, we tried. But looks like she was gone," he said.

He said he saw the victim the morning she died, with her child.

"The child is very small. I think it must be two to four months, something like that," he added.

"She was walking with them all the time.

"What is he going to do when he grows up without mother?"

'Screaming' alerted neighbours to 'tragedy'

Joanna Coates, a local resident, heard what she now believes was screaming from the attack, but hadn't realised what was going on.

Speaking to Sky News, she said: "All I heard was screaming and shouting 'get off'. It was that bad screaming even my daughter woke up and heard it. She's 16.

"I thought it was people on drugs, fighting over the drugs, there's screaming all the time round this area. If I knew I would've gone and helped her."

She added she thought it was "disgusting" what had happened.

Duncan Milwain, a curate (trainee vicar) at Bradford Cathedral, had just returned from a few days off when he heard the news.

He told Sky News: "As someone with a very young child myself, my initial thoughts and feelings are with that young baby.

"It's tragic for the woman and her family, but for this child, long after we've all disappeared and the news has moved on and we've forgotten about this, that young baby will grow up motherless. That's the tragedy here."

Police encouraged the public not to approach Masum.

"A knife was recovered from the scene of the murder, but we cannot say if Habibur Masum is armed," said Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson.

"If anyone has any information about his movements or whereabouts since 3.20pm on Saturday please contact police as a matter of urgency."

Bradford manhunt continues over fatal stabbing of woman pushing baby in pram

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