27-year-old man arrested on suspicion of string of stabbings in Birmingham by UK police

British police early on Monday, arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of murder and seven counts of attempted murder following a string of stabbings in a busy nightlife district in the central England city of Birmingham over the weekend.

British police early on Monday, arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of murder and seven counts of attempted murder following a string of stabbings in a busy nightlife district in the central England city of Birmingham over the weekend. The arrest occurred around 4 am in the morning after a large-scale police manhunt in the aftermath of stabbings in the early hours of Sunday and the suspect remains in custody, according to West Midlands Police. A 23-year-old man was killed in the attacks and a man and a woman, ages 19 and 32, remain critically ill in hospital after suffering serious stab wounds. Police released CCTV footage of the man they said was wanted on suspicion of murder.

Following the arrest, Birmingham Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Graham, said one line of enquiry “ultimately led us to an address in the Selly Oak area this morning where a man was arrested.”

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“Clearly this is a crucial development but our investigation continues,” he added.

The motives for the attack remains unclear and the victims appeared to have been chosen at random. The attacker was also able to wander the city during his 90-minute rampage for which the local police have faced criticism. West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has urged people to avoid speculating over any motives behind the attacks and to “remain calm but vigilant.”

Britain also has seen several recent extremist knife attacks, including a stabbing rampage in a city park in Reading, near London, in June that killed three people. A Libyan man has been charged.