A man being hunted by police after a 27-year-old mum was stabbed to death while she pushed a pram through Bradford city centre was facing trial for allegedly threatening to kill her.
A nationwide manhunt is underway to find the suspect in the murder of Kulsuma Akter, 27, in the street in Bradford on Saturday. Every police force in the country has been tasked with finding suspect Habibur Masum, 25, after the horrific stabbing of the mum on April 6 in the Westgate area of the city.
Now it’s been revealed that he was already facing trial for allegedly threatening to kill the mum, reports The Sun.
Masum is accused of making the threats against Ms Akter the day after he allegedly attacked her in November last year. He was given bail ahead of a trial later to be held in September. He was also barred from having any contact with her. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
However, on Saturday he reportedly travelled by train and taxi from his home in Oldham, Greater Manchester, to the area where Ms Akter was living in a women’s refuge in Bradford.
He allegedly chatted to her in the street for five minutes, before allegedly pulling out a knife and stabbing her in the neck around five times.
Police confirmed the baby was not harmed in the attack.
Detective Superintendent Jude Holmes from Greater Manchester Police 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.
“Habibur Masum is wanted by West Yorkshire Police on suspicion of murder. Due to his links to Greater Manchester, we have our specialist officers following several lines of enquiry to locate him.
“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.
“Due to previous police contact with Habibur Masum and Kulsuma Akter, Greater Manchester Police has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct,” reports The Sun.
The young mum was described by a shopkeeper who tried to save her as a “good, charitable lady”. Geo Khan heard her scream and ran out of his shop to find her already dead, he covered her in a sheet until the ambulance arrived.
The suspect remains at large but police said that a 23-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Police confirmed that raids have taken place in Oldham, where Ms Akter and Mr Masum were both from, as well as in the Burnley and Chester areas, but would not confirm where the 23-year-old man had been arrested.
Masum is described as having a slim build and was wearing a grey, white and black duffle coat, light blue or grey tracksuit bottoms and maroon trainers. He has also been seen wearing a grey hoodie.
Police said anyone who sees Masum should call 999 “immediately”.
