Bradford stabbing: Habibur Masum, 25, charged for ‘murder’ of mum knifed in front of baby boy – with 4 others arrested
HABIBUR Masum has tonight been charged with the murder of a “lovely” mum knifed to death as she walked with her baby boy in a pram.
Kulsuma Akter, 27, was attacked in broad daylight in the Bradford city centre on Saturday.
Tributes quickly poured in for the “smiling” mum as her brother opened up about his family’s “complete devastation”.
Masum, 25, was on Tuesday arrested on suspicion of the young mum’s murder.
Another male, 23, had been arrested the day prior on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Masum has now been charged with the murder of Kulsuma, West Yorkshire Police confirmed.
They said he would appear in court tomorrow.
The force said four other men were also arrested in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on suspicion of assisting an offender and drug offences.
The men aged 23, 26, 28, and 29, from the West Midlands area, remain in custody.
Masum was named as the fugitive cops were hunting following the attack.
He is the dad of the tot who was in the pram when Kulsuma was ambushed.
The mum’s heartbroken family opened up about their devastation in the wake of her tragic death.
West Yorkshire Police's latest statement:
Detectives investigating the murder of Kulsuma Akter in Bradford on Saturday 6 April have charged a man with her murder.
Habibur Masum, 25, of Leamington Avenue, Burnley has been charged tonight (Wednesday, 10 April) with murder and possession of a bladed article.
He has been remanded into custody to appear at Bradford Magistrates Court tomorrow (Thursday, 11 April).
A 23-year-old man arrested in the Cheshire area on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released on bail.
Four other men were arrested in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on suspicion of assisting an offender and drug offences. The men aged 23, 26, 28, and 29, from the West Midlands area, are currently in custody.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for anyone with information that could assist the investigation to report it via Live Chat online or by calling 101, quoting log 1071 of 6 April. Information can also be given to the Major Incident Public Portal via this link: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Anyone wishing to provide information anonymously can do so by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The 27-year-old’s brother said his loved ones were struggling to come to terms with their loss.
The “heartbroken” man told MailOnline: “We are not even able to speak and have been crying all the time since this happened.
“We had to call our mother in Bangladesh to tell her the news. Can you imagine what this was like for us? I can’t believe my sister is dead.”
Kulsuma’s cousin Aftab Miah added that while she had died in a devastating way, the family would always remember her as a happy person.
Paying tribute, Aftab said: “She was a lovely girl and had a great personality. She was always smiling and liked to make people laugh.”
We are not even able to speak and have been crying all the time since this happened.
Kulsuma's brother
He said as their family was spread across different parts of the world, they could not come together in their grief.
A devastated Aftab said that he “can’t put into words” what the family is going through.
The horror attack unfolded at the junction with Drewton Road, Westgate around 3.21pm on Saturday.
Petrified onlookers rushed in to try to save the mum – but she tragically died in hospital.
One of them was brave shopkeeper Geo Khan, who ran out after hearing her screaming in the street.
She was always smiling and liked to make people laugh.
Aftab Miah
The greengrocer 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.”
Kulsuma’s baby boy was unharmed in the attack.
Cops launched a manhunt for Masum – sharing what he was last seen wearing and appealing for the public’s help.
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.
West Yorkshire Police has also referred itself to the police watchdog.
If anyone witnessed this incident or has any relevant dashcam footage, they are urged to contact police via Live Chat 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.
Tributes to mum after 'really shocking' killing
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.”