Hundreds may have seen stabbings

Union Street closed on Friday nightUnion Street, which was cordoned off on Friday night, has now mostly reopened

Hundreds of people may have witnessed two men being stabbed to death in Birmingham city centre, police said.

The first man was stabbed outside Sainsbury’s in Union Street at about 17:50 GMT on Friday and the second was found slumped outside the side entrance to Boots.

Minutes later, a 23-year-old man was arrested in New Street.

Post-mortem examinations on the two men, aged in their 30s, are due to take place later.

The man who was arrested, near to the Odeon cinema in New Street, remains in custody.

Union Street, which was closed on Friday night, has now reopened but some areas of the street and part of New Street remain cordoned off for forensic investigations to continue.

‘Exceptionally rare’

Supt Richard MooreSupt Richard Moore said it was important not “to jump to conclusions”

Police urged anyone who saw the stabbings – or the attacker fleeing the scene – to contact them.

Ambulance crews said police officers and members of the public had been helping give the stabbed men first aid when they arrived.

However, both went into cardiac arrest and died at the scene.

Supt Richard Moore, of West Midlands Police, said: “We can’t assume anything at the moment, these are the very stages of a major crime investigation.

“We will put all of our investigation resources into looking at the incident. What we can’t do is jump to conclusions.

“It is a dreadful incident, but thankfully dreadful incidents like this are exceptionally rare.”

West Midlands Police said they had identified the victims, but their details were not yet being released.

They said extra police patrols would be out in the city centre over the weekend to reassure members of the public.