Following the death of a young Bradford woman who was stabbed in front of her child, a national manhunt got underway on Monday.
During a shopping trip, the 27-year-old mother was carrying her five-month-old infant in a stroller when a male suspect struck her and then ran away.
Later, she passed away at a hospital.The 25-year-old Oldham native and acquaintance of the woman, Habibur Masum, was the subject of a West Yorkshire Police warning.
If someone sees Masum, the officers asked them to call 999 right away rather than approaching him.
The baby was unhurt and a knife was found at the site.
According to his LinkedIn page, Masum is a blogger from Bangladesh who relocated to the UK to pursue a master’s degree in digital marketing at the University of Bedfordshire.
On social media, he has periodically shared updates about his life, including photos of his travels throughout Europe and his clothes shopping at Primark.
Witnesses report that around 3:20 PM on Saturday, the woman was waiting outside Westgate International Food for a friend who was inside when she was stabbed four or five times in the neck.
When he heard shouts, shopkeeper Geo Khan, 69, rushed outside where he discovered the woman face down in a pool of blood.
He tried to resuscitate the dying woman, who was also customer.
“I turned her over,” Mr Khan said. “There was a lot of blood and I checked for a pulse, but couldn’t find one.
“I could see the knife wounds to her neck and I tried to do CPR. Her friend was screaming.
“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.”
Detectives issued CCTV images and a mugshot of Masum, who was wearing a duffle coat with three large horizontal grey, white and black stripes, 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.
Masum, described as an Asian man of slim build, is believed to have links to the Burnley and Chester areas.
A neighbouring force, Greater Manchester Police, posted the appeal on their social media channels on Monday morning.
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire’s homicide team, said: “We have had significant resources following up a number of lines of enquiry to locate Habibur Masum but at this time his whereabouts are unknown.
“A knife was recovered from the scene of the murder, but we cannot say if Habibur Masum is armed, and I would urge anyone who does see him not to approach him but to call 999 immediately.
“If anyone has any information about his movements or whereabouts since 3.20pm on Saturday please contact police as a matter of urgency.
“We understand that the murder of a young woman in such shocking circumstances has caused considerable concern in the local community.
As we perform reassurance patrols and make additional enquiries, residents should anticipate seeing a large police presence in Bradford.
Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah expressed her sympathies to the woman’s family and described the tragedy as “extremely shocking.”
Reports of any recent sightings of Masum should be sent via 999 to West Yorkshire Police. Any additional information that could help the inquiry can be provided by phone at 101 and referencing log 1071 of April 6 or using the online Live Chat feature.
