Bradford stabbing: Victim killed pushing pram from Oldham

On Saturday afternoon, 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter was fatally stabbed in the neck while pushing her baby in a pram through the Westgate area of Bradford city centre.

Suspect Habib Masum, aged 25, was arrested yesterday morning 170 miles away in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, following a four-day hunt.

Now, Ms Akter's cousin Aftab Miah has told the BBC that her mother, who lives in Bangladesh, has been "constantly crying".

A police cordon on Westgate, where Kulsuma Akter was stabbed (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Aftab Miah told the broadcaster: “She was very caring, humble, she had (a) good personality. She used to make people laugh. She was a wonderful lady.

“Her mum in Bangladesh, she’s constantly crying. I spoke to (her) a lot yesterday, and she never stopped crying and all the time mentioning her name.”

The attack took place at 3.20pm in Westgate at the junction with Drewton Road, and while emergency services were called, Ms Akter was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

It was only two years ago that she moved to Oldham with her husband, her cousin told the BBC.

Flowers laid at the scene in Westgate, Bradford city centre (Image: Dave Higgens/PA)

He added that when he spoke to Ms Akter's mother, she had "never stopped crying" and was "all the time mentioning her name".

While Ms Akter was stabbed multiple times, the baby is reportedly safe and was not harmed in the incident, West Yorkshire Police confirmed.

A 23-year-old man was also arrested in Cheshire on suspicion of assisting an offender remains in police custody.

Due to police having contact with Ms Akter prior to her death, both West Yorkshire Police and Greater Manchester Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

The scene in Bradford city centre (Image: Dave Higgens/PA)

Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Enquiry Team, said: “This is a tragic incident in which a mother has lost her life in the most horrific of circumstances.    
   
“We understand that this has caused a considerable amount of concern in the local community. Local Neighbourhood Policing teams are patrolling the area conducting reassurance to the community.  

“We would like to thank Thames Valley Police for their support and assistance in this matter.”  

Residents with information are urged to report it via Live Chat on West Yorkshire Police's website or by calling 101, quoting log 1071 of 6 April. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.