The suspect in the multiple stabbing of a pregnant woman in Sutton Coldfield yesterday is to be detained for questioning for a further 12 hours.
West Midlands Police have been granted the extra time and will be able to question the 41-year-old man until the early hours of Sunday morning.
He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken into custody after a passers-by flagged down officers after the stabbing in the busy town centre. Several members of the public attempted to intervene, two of whom were treated for minor injuries.
The 40-year-old victim was taken away from the scene by air ambulance at around 4pm and her unborn child was later safely delivered. The baby girl is doing well although her mother remains in a critical but stable condition.
Detective Inspector Ian Ingram from the Public Protection Unit said: “We have launched a major investigation and are working hard to understand the circumstances that led up to the assault.
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“I am appealing to anyone who was in the area yesterday afternoon and who may have seen something to come forward and speak to my officers.”
On Friday, Chief Inspector Julian Harper told reporters: “They [the man and woman] are believed known to each other so this was what we call a domestic-related situation. As such, no other members of the public should be alarmed and should be reassured that we have what we believe is the only person involved in this incident.”
He praised the members of the public for “bravely” intervening, saying: “What is clear at this early stage is that two members of the public bravely stepped into what was a dangerous and volatile situation, with complete disregard for their own safety and I commend them for their actions.