Bradford stabbing: Victim named as Kulsuma Akter as hunt for Habibur Masum continues

Image source, Md Habibur Rahman Masum/Threads

By Oli Constable & David Spereall

BBC News

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.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We are assessing the available information to determine whether an investigation into that contact may be required and if so, who should conduct that investigation.”

Det Supt Jude Holmes from GMP Oldham district said: “We share the shock and concern that our communities feel in the wake of this tragic incident, and our thoughts are with Kulsuma Akter’s family at this truly distressing time.”

She said the force had provided “specialist officers” to support the search for Mr Masum.

“I urge members of the public to remain vigilant, and if you have any information on his whereabouts, call 999 as a matter of urgency,” she said.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

A knife was recovered from the scene on Saturday but police have not said whether Mr Masum is still believed to be armed.

He is described as a slim Asian man and was last seen wearing a duffle coat with three large horizontal lines, grey tracksuit bottoms and maroon trainers.

A Facebook page believed to belong to him suggests he is a Bangladeshi national and studied digital marketing at the University of Bedfordshire.

The university declined to comment or confirm if Mr Masum was one of its students when contacted by the BBC.

Geo Khan, who runs a fruit and veg shop close to the scene, told the BBC how he had tried to save the victim.

He said he had heard screaming and ran to help but found Ms Akter seriously injured.

“Within a few minutes a doctor arrived and we tried to turn her over,” he told the BBC.

“There was blood everywhere. I got a sheet and I put that over her until the ambulance arrived.”

Clarification 8 April 2024: An initial incorrect spelling of Kulsuma Akter supplied by West Yorkshire Police was updated to accurately reflect her name.

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