Habibur Masum in court charged with murder of young woman

Habibur Masum, 25, is charged with murdering Kulsuma Akter, 27, who was attacked in Bradford city centre at 3.21pm on Saturday, April 6.

Masum, of Leamington Avenue, Burnley, is also charged with possession of a bladed article.

He appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he was remanded in custody following a six minute long hearing.

Masum stood in the glass-fronted dock as he was addressed by District Judge Alex Boyd.

Police at the scene in Westgate after the fatal stabbing (Image: Newsquest)

Clean-shaven, dressed in a grey sweatshirt and flanked by three security guards, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Masum was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, 170 miles away from where Ms Akter was stabbed.

A 23-year-old man arrested in the Cheshire area on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released on bail, West Yorkshire Police said.

Four other men were arrested in Aylesbury on suspicion of assisting an offender and drug offences.

Floral tributes in Westgate (Image: T&A)

The men aged 23, 26, 28 and 29, from the West Midlands area, are currently in custody, the force added.

Ms Akter was taken to hospital after being stabbed several times at 3.20pm on Saturday.

She later died from her injuries.

The baby is safe and was not harmed in the incident, police said.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges on Wednesday evening.

A selection of images of police conducting inquiries in Westgate (Image: T&A)
 
Shaun Sigamoney, district Crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire & Humberside, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised West Yorkshire Police to charge Habibur Masum, with murder and possession of a bladed article, following the death of Kulsuma Akter who was fatally stabbed in Bradford city centre on Saturday, April 6.
 
“Prosecutors from CPS Yorkshire & Humberside’s Complex Casework Unit authorised the charges following a review of a file of evidence from West Yorkshire Police.
 
“Our thoughts are with Kulsuma Akter’s family at this time.
 
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that they have a right to a fair trial.

"It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Flowers have been laid at the scene of the incident, while Bradford Cathedral lit candles in memory of Ms Akter.