FIGHT FOR LIFE
Bradford shopkeeper tells of desperate battle to save mum with CPR after she was ‘stabbed in the neck’ when pushing pram
Police launched an urgent manhunt after the suspect fled the scene
A SHOPKEEPER has told of his desperate battle to save a mum after she was knifed to death while pushing her baby's pram.
Greengrocer Geo Khan said he performed CPR on the woman after she was stabbed in broad daylight in Bradford city centre.
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The 69-year-old said he heard blood-curdling screams just after 3.20pm on Saturday.
He said the mum, who later died in hospital, was a regular customer at his shop.
Geo told The Sun: "I was working on Saturday and I heard screams and ran out of my shop.
"I saw that lady was lying face down on the pavement next to a pushchair with her five-month old baby boy inside.
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“I turned her over. There was a lot of blood and I checked for a pulse, but couldn’t find one."
The greengrocer claimed the woman's neck was covered in knife wounds.
He added: "I tried to do CPR.
"Her friend, who had gone into the Westgate International Food store when the attack happened, was screaming.
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"A doctor was passing in a car and stopped to help. He picked up a pulse and I got a sheet to put over her until the ambulance came."
Local barber Adhi Aziz said he didn't realise anything had happened until police swarmed the area.
He said: "The lady was attacked outside the Westgate corner shop.
"My wife told me the woman was pushing a pram with a baby inside when she was stabbed."
The terrifying attack happened around 3.21pm on Saturday at the junction with Drewton Road, Westgate.
The area has been taped off by police ever since, with dozens of cops seen scouring the area.
The woman, 27, was rushed to hospital where she tragically died, sparking a murder probe. She is yet to be named by police.
Her baby was unharmed, cops said.
West Yorkshire Police launched a hunt for her alleged killer who fled the scene.
On Sunday, the force released pictures of the suspect - who they identified as 25-year-old Habibur Masum.
He and the mum were known to each other, cops said.
Masum is from Oldham, near Manchester, and is described as an Asian man of slim build with links to Burnley and Chester.
CCTV footage released by cops shows Masum wearing a duffle coat and tracksuits bottoms.
I saw that lady was lying face down on the pavement next to a pushchair with her five-month old baby boy inside.
Geo Khan
A witness also claimed the knifeman was wearing a grey hoodie with the hood up.
West Yorkshire Police said: "Detectives investigating the murder of a woman in Bradford have named a man who is wanted on suspicion of the offence.
"Police are appealing for members of the public to report any sightings of Habibur Masum, 25, who is from the Oldham area.
"He is wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a woman in the Westgate area of Bradford city centre yesterday afternoon.
"He is described as an Asian man, of slim build.
"He is pictured on CCTV wearing a duffle coat with three large horizontal lines of grey, white and black, light blue or grey tracksuit bottoms with a small black emblem on the left pocket and maroon trainers.
"A witness also reported seeing him wearing a grey hoodie with the hood up.
"He is believed to have links to the Burnley and Chester areas."
West Yorkshire Police said the brutal attack had left the city in shock.
Tributes to mum after 'really shocking' killing
BRADFORD West MP Naz Shah described the city centre killing as "really shocking".
She sent her condolences to the woman's loved ones and urged anyone with any information to get in touch with police.
One resident speaking at the scene said: "It's just awful, horrific news.
"It's scary. My thoughts are with her friends and family."
Another added: "It's just shocking. There are no other words."
One woman at the scene said: "The poor girl and her family. We need more police in the area. I don't feel safe."
Other local residents have been expressing their shock on social media.
One woman wrote on Facebook: "So sad RIP young lady. My thoughts go out to all the family and friends."
Another added: "What a sad world we live in, RIP young lady."
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said: "This is a shocking incident that has happened in broad daylight in a busy area of Bradford and been witnessed by a number of people.
"A young woman has lost her life in the most awful circumstances, and we have extensive enquiries ongoing to locate and arrest the man responsible.
"We understand that this incident will understandably cause concern in the local community.
"I would like to reassure the wider public that we are working tirelessly to investigate this horrendous crime and bring the person responsible to justice.
"To help us with this we are urging anyone who was in the area who may have dashcam footage or seen or heard something, however small it may seem, to please come forward.
"A scene remains in place which includes some road closures and I thank the public for their patience while we conduct our enquiries."
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If anyone witnessed this incident or has any relevant dashcam footage, they are urged to contact police via online or by calling 101, quoting log 1072 of 6 April.
Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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