Birmingham stabbings: Man charged with murder

The 27-year-old was arrested at a property in Selly Oak in the early hours of Monday

A man has been charged with murder and seven counts of attempted murder, after a series of stabbings across Birmingham city centre.

Zephaniah McLeod, aged 27, of Nately Grove, Selly Oak, is due in court on Wednesday, West Midlands Police said.

Jacob Billington, 23, was killed and seven others injured at four locations over a period of 90 minutes on Sunday.

Mr Billington, from Crosby, Merseyside, was stabbed in Irving Street while enjoying a night out with friends.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died of a stab wound to the neck.

Drummer in band

Mr Billington had been working as a library intern at Sheffield Hallam University and was also a drummer in a band.

A university spokesman said: "Jacob was a Sheffield Hallam graduate and had joined the library as a graduate intern, where his warmth and enthusiasm made him a greatly valued member of our team.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends and colleagues."

His friend, Michael Callaghan, also 23 and a fellow band-mate, was seriously injured in the attack in Irving Street and remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Both men had previously attended Sacred Heart Catholic College in Crosby, where prayers were said on Monday evening for their families.

In a statement, the school said: "We are saddened at the events in Birmingham which took Jacob's life and left Michael critically injured.

"We are praying for Michael's recovery and will never forget Jacob, his life touched so many in our school."

Jacob Billington, who was out with friends, was stabbed to death in Birmingham

A 22-year-old woman, attacked in Hurst Street, remains critical but stable in hospital.

Another man, aged 30, remains in a serious condition in hospital, while four others have been discharged.

Det Ch Insp Jim Munro said: "Since these tragic events unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning we've had a team of officers working non-stop on the investigation.

"Our driving focus is to secure justice for the victims, their family and friends. Our sympathies remain with everyone who's been impacted by these terrible crimes."

Three people arrested early on Monday at an address in Selly Oak on suspicion of assisting an offender have all been released pending investigation, police said.