Man charged with murder after mother stabbed while walking her baby in a pram in Bradford

Habibur Masum has been charged with the murder of 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter

The scene in Bradford city centre where Kulsuma Akter was stabbed to death in the street as she pushed her baby in a pram on Saturday afternoon (PA Wire)

A man has been charged with murder after a mother was stabbed in the neck as she pushed her baby.

Habibur Masum, from Burley, Lancashire, was charged with the murder of 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter after a four-day manhunt culminated in his arrest in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Mr Masum, 25, is also charged with possession of a bladed article and is set to appear at Bradford Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Akter, a 27-year-old from Oldham, died after being stabbed on Westgate in Bradford at the junction with Drewton Road at 3:21pm on Saturday 6 April.

Kulsuma was taken to hospital but subsequently died from her injuries. Her baby was not harmed in the incident.

According to witnesses, she was stabbed “four to five times” in the neck while shopping with a friend, with local shopkeepers running to her assistance.

Labour MP Naz Shah lays flowers at the scene in Westgate, Bradford (Dave Higgens/PA Wire)

Ms Akter’s mother has been “constantly crying”, Ms Akter’s cousin told the BBC.

Aftab Miah told the broadcaster: “She (Ms Akter) was very caring, humble, she had (a) good personality. She used to make people laugh. She was a wonderful lady.”

He added: “Her mum in Bangladesh, she’s constantly crying. I spoke to (her) a lot yesterday, and she never stopped crying and all the time mentioning her name.”

Police say that four other men aged in their 20s were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender as well as drug offences.

Authorities added that another man, aged 23, arrested on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender was released on bail.

West Yorkshire Police has also referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct because its officers had contact with Ms Akter before her death.

Floral tributes left in Bradford city centre (Dave Higgens/PA Wire)

A 23-year-old man arrested in Cheshire on suspicion of assisting an offender remains in police custody.

Shaun Sigamoney, district crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “Prosecutors from CPS Yorkshire and Humberside’s complex casework unit authorised the charges following a review of a file of evidence from West Yorkshire Police.

“Our thoughts are with Kulsuma Akter’s family at this time.

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that they have a right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”