Small Heath stabbing: on-the-run murder suspect arrested in London

A man wanted over a Birmingham murder who’d been on the run for more than two months has been arrested after he was tracked down in London.

The 19-year-old was sought in connection with the fatal stabbing of Yahya Sharif in Small Heath on 10 December last year.

Yahya was attacked by a group just before 5.30pm and suffered a stab wound to his chest.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Yahya was aged just 18.

In the early hours of yesterday morning (16 February) officers from the Met Police acting on intelligence arrested a man from an address in Twickenham.

He’s been detained on suspicion of murder and transported to a police station in the West Midlands for questioning.

He’s the fifth person who has been arrested in connection with the killing.

The four teenagers – three aged 18 and a 19-year-old – have all been charged with murder and are now in prison on remand awaiting trial.

What’s been said following the arrest?

Detective Inspector Hannah Whitehouse from our Homicide Unit, said: “This is a significant step forward in our enquiries: we suspect this man played a primary role in the murder of Yahya.

“Our enquiries continue but we are not actively looking for anyone else in connection with Yahya’s death.

“I’d like to thank Yahya’s family for their patience and support while our enquiries progressed. This has been a complex investigation to identify and trace the people we believe are responsible but I am pleased we can bring them this latest development.

“And I’d also like to thank members of the public who’ve also helped our investigations and provided us with important information.”

A second man, aged 18 from Birmingham, was also detained alongside the murder suspect and he’s been arrested on suspicion of knife possession.

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