Bradford stabbing: Murder suspect was on bail accused of threats to kill

Habibur Masum, 25, is wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing, police said

A man suspected of stabbing a woman to death in Bradford city centre was on bail accused of assaulting and threatening to kill her.

A manhunt is under way for Habibur Masum, 25, who is wanted on suspicion of murdering Kulsuma Akter, 27.

She was pushing her baby in a pram when she was attacked on Saturday.

Mr Masum was bailed by magistrates in November after being charged with assaulting and threatening to kill Ms Akter, offences which he had denied.

Court documents show Mr Masum, who is from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was charged with threatening to kill Ms Akter on 24 November and assaulting her on 23 November. Both offences were alleged to have happened in Manchester.

Mr Masum pleaded not guilty to both offences at a hearing at Manchester Magistrates' Court on 27 November last year where he was released on bail and ordered not to contact Ms Akter, it is understood.

Habibur Masum was last seen wearing a grey, white and black jacket with grey tracksuit bottoms and maroon trainers

His bail conditions also prevented him from contacting a second person, or visiting a particular address.

Police previously said Ms Akter and Mr Masum were known to each other, but did not confirm the nature of their relationship.

West Yorkshire Police and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have both referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as both had had prior contact with the pair.

Ms Akter was found seriously injured at about 15:21 BST on Saturday when officers were called to Westgate near the junction with Drewton Road. She was taken to hospital but later died. Her baby was unharmed.

After the attack Mr Masum was seen on CCTV getting on a bus in Market Street at about 15:30.

West Yorkshire Police said a 23-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender after raids were carried out in Burnley, Oldham and Chester.

The force has urged anyone who sees Mr Masum to call 999 "immediately".

Speaking on Monday, Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller said: "I believe him to still be in the country at this moment in time."

A knife was recovered from the scene on Saturday but police have not said whether Mr Masum was still believed to be armed.

He is described as a slim Asian man and was last seen wearing a duffle coat with three large horizontal lines, grey tracksuit bottoms and maroon trainers.