ENGLAND

Man charged over stabbing attacks of eight people in Birmingham

Police officers patrol in Birmingham city centre days after a lone knifeman carried out a stabbing spree. Photo: Jacob King/dpa.

The attacks took place at four locations over a period of about two hours, prompting criticism of the police response's speed.

Police in the British city of Birmingham have charged a man with one count of murder and seven counts of attempted murder after a stabbing attack on the weekend, they said on Tuesday.

Police identified the attacker as 27-year-old Zephaniah McLeod, who is to face court on Wednesday.

McLeod is accused of killing 23-year-old Jacob Billington, who died of a stab wound to the neck.

He is also accused of injuring seven other people, some severely, in a stabbing spree in downtown Birmingham, in central England, early Sunday.

Motive still unknown

The attacks took place at four locations over a period of about two hours, prompting criticism of the police response's speed.

The motive for the attack is still unknown. Police are not assuming it was terrorism-related and have previously said victims appear to have been chosen at random.