Multiple stabbings in Birmingham city centre as police declare a major incident
One dead and seven injured in mass Birmingham stabbing: Murder detectives hunt lone knifeman who attacked victims at random – as chief rules out terrorism
- Police were called to reports of a stabbing in Birmingham city centre at around 12.30am on Sunday morning
- West Midlands Police say there were then a number of other stabbings in the Gay Village and Snow Hill areas
- Police say there are a ‘number of victims’, but severity of injuries not yet known, as they prepare a conference
- West Midlands Police deploy officers to multiple areas of city as they declare stabbings as a ‘major incident’
- Did you witness the incidents in Birmingham City Centre today?: Contact james.robinson@mailonline.co.uk
By James Robinson and Joe Riddle For Mailonline
Published: 01:37 EDT, 6 September 2020 | Updated: 07:11 EDT, 6 September 2020
One man has died and seven other people have been injured in a series of stabbings in Birmingham city centre, as police have today declared it a ‘major incident’.
Detectives have launched a murder investigation and a manhunt for a lone knifeman following the attacks, which took place in the West Midlands city across a two hour period in the early hours of this morning.
Of the seven injured, two people, a man and a woman, are said to be in a critical condition in hospital with serious injuries.
Police believe the victims were targeted ‘at random’ and say there is ‘no suggestion’ at this time that the stabbings were related to terrorism, gangs or hate crime.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: ‘We can now confirm that we’ve launched a murder investigation following the events in Birmingham city centre overnight.
‘A man has tragically died. Another man and a woman have suffered serious injuries and five others have also been injured, although their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
‘We believe the incidents, which took place between 12.30am and 2.20am, are linked and we’re doing all we can to find whoever was responsible.
‘Detectives are following a number of lines of enquiry and we’ve increased our uniformed and armed response in the city.
‘We continue to hold a number of scenes across the city, including Livery Street, Irving Street and Hurst Street.’
It comes after officers were called to reports of a stabbing in the city centre at around 12.30am on Sunday.
Police say the incident began in Constitution Hill in the north of the city centre, moving down towards the junction of Livery Street and Barwick Street in the Snow Hill area.
The attack then moved south through the city centre towards Birmingham’s Arcadian Centre and on to Hurst Street and nearby Irving Street.
Police say there were multiple stabbings at each of the locations. Cordons are currently in place in each of the areas, including a forensic tent in Irving Street and Livery Street.
West Midlands Police did not reveal at which of the locations the murder took place and say that no arrests have yet been made.
Multiple people have been stabbed in Birmingham city centre, with police declaring a major incident. Pictured: Police have today cordoned off part of Irving Street in Birmingham
A large police presence has been seen in Irving Street today. The road is a short walk from the Arcadian Centre, where police first received reports of a stabbing
Officers have also cordoned off an area in the city’s LGBT area, known as ‘Gay Village’, following the stabbings in Birmingham today
The corner of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street, which is part of the city’s LGBT district, was cordoned off earlier today
A large group of police cars and vans were seen at the scene following an incident in Birmingham city centre this morning
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has said the incidents ‘look to be related’, but the motivation for them ‘is not yet understood’. Pictured: Police in Irving Street this morning
Detectives continue to hunt for a lone knifeman, but have released no further details. They say detectives are reviewing CCTV in the area and are appealing for anyone with mobile phone footage to come forward.
Meanwhile, West Midlands Police said there was ‘no suggestion’ gunshots had been fired, following comments on social media.
The force added that its response to the incident will continue ‘for some time’.
One of the areas to be cordoned off is the junction of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street.
The area is part of Birmingham’s Gay Village – an LGBT neighbourhood with a thriving night life featuring clubs, bars and live entertainment.
The area is also where Birmingham’s Gay Pride event takes place each year. Police say they do not believe the stabbings were motivated by hate and that each of the victims was not known to each other.
According staff at LGBT bar Eden, customers were locked inside the venue as police swarmed the streets.
Owner Cal Eden told The Sun Online: ‘It was really, really frightening. I’ve never seen so many police. It was just an indiscriminate attack by the sounds of it.
‘It was really scary. We closed the doors because we didn’t want to scare our customers.’
Police forensic teams have this morning been seen working behind a cordon on Hurst Street in Birmingham this morning
A discarded blanket at the scene in Hurst Street, Birmingham, after a number of people were stabbed in the city centre
A heavy police presence has been seen across Birmingham city centre following the stabbings, which have been declared a major incident
Officers have sealed off the junction between Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street this morning. The area is near to where one of the incidents took place
The area is part of Birmingham’s Gay Village – an LGBT neighbourhood with a thriving night life featuring clubs, bars and live entertainment
Police speak to a passer-by from behind a cordon at Barwick Street in Birmingham today as forensic officers are seen in the background
One woman, who works in the area, told BBC Radio Five Live this morning that she heard two ‘bangs’ before seeing a young male lying on the floor.
The club promoter told the station she had heard racial slurs during the incident, adding it was a ‘multicultural night’ in the clubs near the Arcadian complex – an indoor entertainment and party venue with bars, restaurants and a comedy club.
She said: ‘I heard a bang. I thought it was my boyfriend shutting the car door but I later found out it was one of many gunshots fired last night.
‘After leaving the car park, I heard another bang. I got out of the car and saw a young male lying on the floor.
‘I spoke to another man who had seen what happened and he told me it was a gunshot.’
Police today said in a tweet: ‘We’re aware of some comments that gunshots were fired, this has not been reported to us at this stage.’
Today Mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street, asked people ‘not to speculate’ about the incident.
The Conservative mayor added: ‘West Midlands Police are set to hold a press conference this morning.
‘My thoughts are with those affected, and my thanks to the emergency services working to deal with this incident.
‘The city remains open for business as usual this morning, but clearly people are asked to avoid the immediate area surrounding Hurst Street while police carry out their investigation. ‘
Meanwhile, Former Scotland Yard Detective Chief Superintendent Gerry Campbell criticised police for delaying the release of information.
He said in a tweet: ‘The Birmingham multiple stabbing has been running for almost 10 hours now without an informed update. With the absence of some updates people will speculate.’
His comments come as police were seen setting up a small forensic tent in Barwick Street, in Birmingham’s Snow Hill area. A heavy police presence has also been spotted in the area today.
Two police forensics officers enter the cordoned area in Livery Street in Birmingham after a number of people were stabbed in the city centre
A police officer stands near to a small forensics tent as he mans a cordon at the junction of Church Street and Barwick Street
A broken glass is seen near an evidence marker after reported stabbings in Birmingham this morning. Police are currently investigating
Armed police were also spotted in Colmore Row, near to Barwick Street, this morning, where one man was reportedly arrested at gunpoint at about 8am.
Police say the arrest was not related to the stabbings.
Meanwhile, police say the area is ‘safe’ to visit and there will be an increased presence of both armed and patrol officers in the area today.
Foreign minister Dominic Raab, told Sky News today: ‘I can’t say too much more at this stage, as there is an ongoing police operation.
‘But people should be vigilant if they are in that area.’
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘As we wait for news on the major incident in Birmingham overnight, all our thoughts are with the victims and anyone else affected. Thank you to our emergency services.’
People are being advised to avoid the area today, as police continue their investigations. Here a passer-by speaks to a masked officer in Livery Street
Two police forensics officers at the cordoned area in Barwick Street in Birmingham today, as police investigate the major incident
Police have also cordoned off Irving Street today. The street is a short walk from the Arcadian Centre and around half a mile from the Snow Hill area
The incident comes after seven people were stabbed in London in a night of violence across the city on Friday.
A teenage boy was knifed on a train platform before another male was found with stab wounds at a neighbouring underground station after they had an ‘altercation’.
The teenager was stabbed at West Ham Station at 6.50pm while the other victim was found at Abbey Road DLR Station after getting a train shortly afterwards.
Both were taken to hospital where they remain after being treated by paramedics.
Later, five men were stabbed on the Broadway in Bexleyheath at around 9.33pm.
One of the victims has potentially life-threatening injuries. Five men have been arrested on suspicion of causing GBH.
