Bradford stabbing: Victim named as Kulsuma Akter as hunt for Habibur Masum continues
Desk report: A mother who was stabbed to death while pushing her baby in a pram through Bradford has been named as 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter from Oldham.
Ms Akter was attacked in the Westgate area on Saturday. Her baby was not harmed, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers said murder suspect Habibur Masum, 25, remained at large but a 23-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Police said anyone who sees Mr Masum should call 999 “immediately”.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller said Ms Akter died after being stabbed “multiple times”. He said her baby was “fit and well”.
Raids have taken place in Oldham – where Mr Masum is also from – as well as in the Burnley and Chester areas, with the 23-year-old man arrested in Cheshire.
Police have previously said Ms Akter and Mr Masum were known to each other, but have not confirmed the nature of their relationship.
West Yorkshire Police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have both referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as both had had prior contact with the pair.
Ms Akter was found seriously injured at about 15:21 BST on Saturday when officers were called to Westgate near to the junction with Drewton Road. She was taken to hospital but later died.
After the attack Mr Masum was seen on CCTV getting on a bus in Market Street at about 15:30, police said.
ACC Miller said the suspect got off the bus in Killinghall Road at about 15:42 and walked in the direction of Bradford Moor Park.
He said this was “the last confirmed sighting”.
He appealed for any taxis drivers who may have picked up Mr Masum on Saturday afternoon to come forward, saying that he would have “most likely paid in cash”.
“I believe Masum is still in the country at this moment in time,” ACC Miller added after confirming airports and ports had been warned to be on the lookout for him.
