Mother knifed to death as she pushed her baby in his pram
Police launch manhunt for suspect who may be armed
A MANHUNT has been launched after a young mother was stabbed to death in front of her baby.
The 27-year-old victim was attacked while pushing her five-month-old son in a buggy on a shopping trip.
Police yesterday issued a national alert for Habibur Masum, 25, who is wanted over Saturday’s murder in Bradford.
They revealed officers had recovered a knife from the scene and said Masum, from Oldham, could be armed.
They urged anyone who sees him not to approach him but to dial 999 immediately.
The victim was stabbed four to five times in the neck, according to witnesses. She had been waiting outside a convenience store for a friend who was shopping inside.
The attacker fled, leaving the young mother, who has not yet been formally identified,
‘Her friend was screaming’
dying on the pavement. Police confirmed the two were known to each other.
Geo Khan, who runs a fruit and vegetable shop nearby, tried to resuscitate the victim, who was one of his customers.
The 69-year- old said: ‘I was working on Saturday and I heard screams and ran out of my shop. I saw that the lady was lying face down on the pavement next to a pushchair with her five-month-old baby inside. I turned her over. There was a lot of blood and I checked for a pulse, but couldn’t find one.
‘I could see the knife wounds to her neck and I tried to do CPR. Her friend was screaming.’
Mr Khan said a doctor who was driving past stopped to help: ‘He picked up a pulse and I went to get a sheet to put over her until the ambulance came.’ The murder took place outside Westgate International Food store, on the junction of Westgate and Drewton Road, at around 3.20pm. Yesterday forensic officers dressed in white suits continued to gather evidence from the scene behind a police cordon.
Police issued CCTV images and a mugshot of Masum, who was wearing a duffle coat with three large horizontal grey, white and black stripes, light blue or grey tracksuit bottoms with a small black emblem on the left pocket and maroon trainers.
Other witnesses reported seeing him wearing a grey sweatshirt with the hood up. He is believed to have links to the Burnley and Chester areas.
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police’s homicide and major inquiry team, described the stabbing as a ‘shocking incident that happened in broad daylight’. She added: ‘ We have significant resources following up a number of lines of enquiry to locate Habibur Masum but at this time his whereabouts are unknown.
‘If anyone has any information about his movements or whereabouts since 3.20pm on Saturday please contact police as a matter of urgency. We understand that the murder of a young woman in such shocking circumstances has caused considerable concern.
‘Residents can expect to continue to see a significant police presence in Bradford as we make further inquiries and conduct reassurance patrols in the area.’