Several people have been injured in a knife attack on a Birmingham street, with the violence erupting directly outside both a primary school and a church in the Alum Rock area of the city earlier today.
Emergency services were called to Bridge Road, where a victim was found lying in the street outside Our Lady of the Rosary and St Therese of Lisieux church, with officers seen carrying out CPR at the scene. Rosary Catholic Primary School, which stands close to where the attack took place, was immediately placed into lockdown as armed police, air ambulance crews and multiple ambulances converged on the area to tend to the injured.
People who witnessed the incident described harrowing scenes. One bystander reported seeing a woman at an upstairs window, her hands covered in blood, screaming out into the street below. A separate account described a member of the public attempting to use their car to stop the attacker, who was said to have been repeatedly stabbing a victim before fleeing the scene.
A 32-year-old man was arrested shortly afterwards and remains in police custody. A woman was also treated for injuries sustained during the incident, though authorities confirmed these were not life-threatening or life-changing.
West Midlands Police confirmed they received the call at 12.06pm and deployed firearms officers as part of their response. Detective Superintendent James Munro stated the incident was believed to be contained, with officers continuing to review CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses in the area. He added that additional officers would remain in the community to provide reassurance to local residents.
The incident occurred within the Birmingham Ladywood constituency, the area represented in parliament by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Anyone with information, including dashcam or mobile footage, is asked to contact West Midlands Police on 101, quoting log number 2105 of 3 March. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
