Shocking CCTV footage of a knifeman attacking a victim sparks condemnation from Walsall bishop

West Midlands Police descended on Oscott and Kingstanding in Birmingham this morning after reports of a knife man on the loose at 6.30am.

A police cordon was set up near the Golden Hind pub on Kingstanding Road and another one on Hawthorn Road which would normally have been packed with shoppers this morning.

Two people were believed to have been stabbed, with one being rushed to hospital for treatment. 

See the shocking footage posted on X here:

This afternoon one of the shops on Hawthorn Road released CCTV footage from this morning of one of the stabbings. The knifeman can be seen walked down the deserted street near the shops, after seeing another man approaching in a high-vis jacket. 

The knifeman then marched towards his victim and stabbed him, prompting him to collapse on the floor. They both then ran off in different directions.

Bishop Desmond Jadoo, from Walsall New Village Church, Wednesbury, lives 100 metres from the stabbing on Hawthorn Road.

He said: "A lot of people could have lost their lives this morning. These stabbing happened at 6.30am, hours before the local police neighbourhood team start their shifts.

"This area of Great Barr and Kingstanding has been left to rot by the council and police."

Bishop Jaddoo runs an anti-knife crime organisation and holds bleed control kit training across the West Midlands.

He said: "We warned everybody this would happen and now we are living with the consequences of budget cuts, from youth services and so much more. After Dea-John Reid was killed just up the road.

, "I lived her for 25 years and the knife crime has never been so bad among young people." 

He added: "And a lot of these problems can stem from social media, this video is already circulating online and children are looking at violence all the time.

West Midlands Police confirmed the knifeman is still in custody this evening.

"We were called to Blenheim Way, Oscott, shortly after 6.30am today after a report of a man with a knife. Officers attended and arrested a man in his 20s. He remains in custody while our enquiries continue.

"One person was taken to hospital for further treatment, but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing at this time."

The spokesman said: "Our officers are remaining at the scene throughout this morning to gather evidence and speak to witnesses.

"We believe this was an isolated incident, and enquiries are ongoing to understand the events leading up to it.

"Anyone who was in the area at the time the incident took place can get in touch via 101 or Live Chat if they saw anything quoting log 659 of 22 March."