Suspect in court over mass stabbing across UK’s Birmingham city center

A 27-year-old man appeared in court on Wednesday charged with murder and seven counts of attempted murder after a mass stabbing in Britain’s second biggest city of Birmingham.

One man died and seven others were injured in the attacks, which happened over a 90-minute period in four locations across the city center early on Sunday.

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Zephaniah McLeod made no plea and spoke only to confirm his personal details during a five-minute court appearance via video link.

He was remanded in custody until a further hearing on Thursday.

This court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook shows Zephaniah McLeod appearing by videolink at a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court, Birmingham, England, on September 9, 2020. (AP)

University graduate Jacob Billington, 23, died of a stab wound to the neck sustained on a night out with school friends, West Midlands Police say.

Another 23-year-old man attacked in the same location was critically ill in hospital and a 22-year-old was critical but stable, the force said in an update on Wednesday.

A third victim, a man aged 30, was in a serious condition while four other people who were wounded were discharged, it added.

Police forensic officers investigate after stabbings in Birmingham, northern England, Sunday Sept. 6, 2020. (AP)

The attacks came amid concern about rising levels of knife crime in Britain, particularly in the capital, London.

In the year to the end of March, attacks in England and Wales rose six percent, according to government statistics.