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Murdered Big Issue vendors likely to have known killer, say police Big Issue vendor murders: man charged
(35 minutes later)
Two Big Issue sellers who were killed in Birmingham city centre were likely to have known their attacker, according to police. A man has been charged with the murders of two Big Issue sellers stabbed to death in front of shoppers in Birmingham city centre. The man, who was arrested shortly after the attacks on Friday, will appear before magistrates in Birmingham on Monday.
Wayne Lee Busst, 32, and Ian Watson Gladwish, 31, both from Birmingham, were stabbed outside a supermarket on Friday just before 6pm in front of hundreds of people. Wayne Lee Busst, 32, and Ian Watson Gladwish, 31, both from Birmingham, were stabbed outside a supermarket on Friday just before 6pm in front of hundreds of people. Police said the two men were likely to have known their attacker.
West Midlands police have been granted more time to question a 23-year-old man who was arrested on Friday evening, after a large response from shoppers and bystanders. West Midlands police arrested the 23-year-old man shortly after the attacks on Friday evening, after a large response from shoppers and bystanders.
One of the victims was found outside a Sainsbury's store in Martineau Place while the second was found slumped yards away near a pharmacy in Union Street. Both men were pronounced dead by emergency services at the scene. One of the victims was found outside a Sainsbury's store in Martineau Place while the second was found slumped yards away near a pharmacy in Union Street. Despite attempts to save their lives from bystanders and police both men were pronounced dead by emergency services at the scene.
West Midlands police have released pictures of the two men, who were described as well-liked vendors of the magazine. Detectives believe the attacker was known to his victims and that it was not a random attack. West Midlands police have released pictures of the two men, who were described as well-liked vendors of the magazine.
Detective Inspector Buck Rogers, who is leading the investigation, said the police had received a wealth of information from shoppers in the busy street. "We have had a fantastic response from the public so far. Early inquiries suggest that this wasn't random. The attacker appears to have known his victims." Detective Inspector Buck Rogers, who is leading the investigation, He urged anyone with more information to come forward. "Our inquiries continue and if there is anyone who saw something on Friday evening and hasn't yet come forward we urge them to call us now on 101."
He urged anyone with more information to come forward. "Our inquiries continue and if there is anyone who saw something on Friday evening and hasn't yet come forward we urge them to call us now on 101." The man was arrested shortly after the attack, near an Odeon cinema a few streets away.
The 23-year-old man was arrested shortly after the attack, near an Odeon cinema a few streets away. He remains in police custody.
The founder of the Big Issue magazine, John Bird, described the double killing as "utterly senseless". In a statement, Bird said he and colleagues were struggling to come to terms with the attack.The founder of the Big Issue magazine, John Bird, described the double killing as "utterly senseless". In a statement, Bird said he and colleagues were struggling to come to terms with the attack.
He said: "Myself and everyone at the Big Issue have been deeply saddened to hear the tragic news that two of our well-liked Birmingham-based vendors were stabbed to death in the city centre. We are struggling to make any sense of this utterly senseless attack, and our sincerest condolences go out to the families of the victims. This awful crime, perpetrated against two hardworking, mild-mannered men, only serves to illustrate the extreme vulnerability of people who live and work on the streets, which is why we at the Big Issue are constantly striving to create opportunities which will help our vendors to get off the streets and out of harm's way. We are truly devastated that these two individuals have been deprived of just such a future."He said: "Myself and everyone at the Big Issue have been deeply saddened to hear the tragic news that two of our well-liked Birmingham-based vendors were stabbed to death in the city centre. We are struggling to make any sense of this utterly senseless attack, and our sincerest condolences go out to the families of the victims. This awful crime, perpetrated against two hardworking, mild-mannered men, only serves to illustrate the extreme vulnerability of people who live and work on the streets, which is why we at the Big Issue are constantly striving to create opportunities which will help our vendors to get off the streets and out of harm's way. We are truly devastated that these two individuals have been deprived of just such a future."