MUM 'MURDER'
Kulsuma Akter named as Bradford mum stabbed to death while pushing baby in pram as cops make arrest in hunt for knifeman
Mum knifed in the neck and left to die in front of baby boy
A WOMAN stabbed to death as she walked her baby son in a pram has been named as cops continue to hunt her suspected killer.
A huge manhunt was launched for Habibur Masum, 25, following the horror in Bradford on Saturday afternoon.
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The woman was stabbed multiple times in the neck and left to die in front of her baby boy as her killer fled, witnesses said yesterday.
West Yorkshire Police have urged anyone who sees Masum to come forward and confirmed both he and the woman are known to each other.
The force also today released a new CCTV image of the murder suspect.
They today named the tragic victim as Kulsuma Akter as they gave an update on the investigation.
Read more on the killing
They also confirmed a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
The development follows a "number of" raids across Burnley, Oldham, and Chester, West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller said.
Both Masum and Kulsuma were known to cops, with Greater Manchester Police referring itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over previous contact with the pair.
Detective Superintendent 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.
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"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.
Bradford suspect Habibur Masum shares videos on his YouTube channel shopping in Primark
"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."
The suspect was last seen getting off a bus on Killinghall Road at 3.42pm on Saturday where he made his way towards Bradford Moor park.
Masum, who is believed to still be in the country, has not been seen since.
The tragedy unfolded at the weekend when the mum was ambushed as she pushed her baby in a pram.
A brave shopkeeper ran out to try to save the woman after hearing her screaming in the street.
Blood was all over on the floor and there were stab wounds in her neck.
Geo Khan
Geo Khan said: "I was sitting in my shop and heard screaming.
"I came out and I tried to check the pulse. There was no pulse.
"Blood was all over on the floor and there were stab wounds in her neck.";
Tragically the woman couldn't be saved but her baby survived.
Police later revealed they were searching for Masum, who is from Oldham but has links to Chester and Burnley.
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."
The aspiring influencer regularly posts videos on his YouTube and TikTok accounts.
One recent clip shows Masum holding up Bangladeshi-made clothes in a local Primark branch.
Other videos show Masum packing his bags for a holiday to Barcelona and walking through a housing estate in the snow.
In the days before the attack, he shared a chilling post from a Bollywood film about a character losing his bride.
CCTV footage released by cops shows Masum wearing a duffle coat and tracksuits bottoms.
Her baby is safe and well and was not harmed in this incident.
Damien Miller
ACC Damien Miller said: "On Saturday April 6, shortly before 3:20pm Kulsuma Akter was walking in Bradford city centre.
"Kulsuma was with her young baby at this time, and was walking along Westgate when she was attacked and stabbed multiple times."
"The emergency services were called at 3:21pm. However, despite the best efforts of members of the public, ambulance crews, and hospital staff, Kulsuma sadly lost her life due to the injuries.
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"Her baby is safe and well and was not harmed in this incident."
Any current sightings of Masum should be reported to West Yorkshire Police via 999 immediately.
'Horrendous crime': Detective vows to track down & arrest murder suspect
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, 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.
"We have extensive enquiries ongoing to locate and arrest the man responsible, who is understood to be known to the victim.
"We know 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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