A police forensics officer takes photographs as he gathers evidence inside a cordon on Irving Street, following a major stabbing incident in Birmingham, England, on Sunday. Police are hunting a suspect after one person died and seven were injured. Photo: AFP
A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the mass stabbings in Britain's second city Birmingham that left one person dead and two critically wounded, police said Monday.
The man was held on suspicion of murder and seven attempted murders that were carried out after midnight on Saturday, West Midlands Police said.
The suspect was detained in the Selly Oak area of the city at around 4 am (0300 GMT) and he remained in police custody for questioning.
A 23-year-old man suffered fatal injuries in what was believed to be a random attack, while a man and a woman, aged 19 and 32, are in a critical condition in hospital.
"Officers worked through yesterday and into the early hours of this morning in a bid to trace the man we believe responsible for these terrible crimes," said Birmingham police chief Steve Graham.
"Clearly this is a crucial development but our investigation continues," he added.
The attack occurred at four separate locations in the busy city center between 12:30 and 2:30 am.
One of the areas was in the heart of Birmingham's Gay Village but officers ruled out a hate crime. They also rejected any links to gang violence or terrorism.
"It does appear to be random in terms of the people that were attacked," said Graham. "This is being treated as a homicide."
Britain has been on high alert after two mass stabbings in London in 2019.
AFP