Shoppers have said they no longer feel safe after a woman was stabbed in the neck in an 'unprovoked attack' at a bus stop in Birmingham city centre.
The victim, aged in her 30s, suffered a 'serious injury' and was rushed to hospital, where she is fighting for her life.
A man in his 20s was arrested close to the scene and is currently in police custody.
Witnesses described seeing a 'random' attacker run up and stab the woman as she waited for a bus.
The horror, which unfolded just yards from Birmingham New Street station at 9pm last night, is the third reported stabbing in the city centre in just over a month.
Two 17-year-old boys were knifed outside a Primark store within the space of a week in October.
In the lead up to one of the attacks, around ten men were said to have been involved in a fight near the city's iconic bronze Bull sculpture.
Tom Jarvis, 20, who was out Christmas shopping today, told Birmingham Live: 'There was another stabbing near here not long ago.'
'I was in town that day too. It's really bad. Not good at all,' he added.
Daniel Webb, 34, described last night's attack as 'really, really disturbing'.
'Things like this should just never happen though. I don't understand it and never will,' he added.
A third shopper said his friend watched the horrific attack unfold. He said that he described people running away from the scene 'screaming'.
Meanwhile, people reacting to Friday's attack on social media also said they no longer feel safe in Birmingham city centre.
One person wrote on Facebook: 'It really is like the Wild West in the Midlands. We live in constant fear of letting our own children go out these days.'
Another added: 'I hate going out. It is so scary now.'
Last night's attack also comes after a 19-year-old woman was found with serious injuries and died in the street just seven miles away.
Lily Whitehouse was discovered in Park Street, in Oldbury, at around 9.50pm on Wednesday night.
Mohammed Azim, 41, was charged with her murder and has appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court.
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I know only the bad news makes the news, and millions of people shop everyday without incident, but these random attacks on innocent people seem to be happening more and more lately. I can't say I feel nervous when out in crowds, but I am certainly more aware of people around me than I used to be....and it does help being the only person left on the planet who doesn't own a mobile phone, I am definitely aware of what's going on around me.
There is definitely more seemingly random vicious violence being reported. It would appear that our streets are getting more dangerous.
I think there is some truth to that but I also think certain types of victims don't get reported. When I lived in Tottenham many moons ago the street crime there was as obvious as it was horrific. Drug deals could be seen in daylight and I witnessed a man being assaulted by a group of males in the tube station. His plight didn't make the news. I dread to think how violent London must be now.
I also have seen modern documentaries about how gang violence in ghetto areas with knives has got out of control. I suppose the severe injuries that occurred could have made the regional news but I doubt it..because the victims are associated with gang culture and make imperfect victims.The violence that occurs within inner cities doesn't get reported on the news often and that has been seriously out of control for decades.
I am glad more violent acts are getting reported now but it is because shocking violence is happening in wider society to everyday respectable people.
I don't know what the cause is though, I honestly don't. The cost of living crisis and less money in people's pockets can't be helping. Labour need to address removing dangerous immigrants by amending the ECHR now rather than talking as if it's a measure they will take in the future. Why not now?
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Falling like ribbons on your shoulder, just like we always saw