Lozells newsagent stabbed in back while opening up

Nov 23 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

A NEWSAGENT was knifed in the back by a hoodie in a seemingly random attack as he opened up his Birmingham store, it emerged today.

The 56-year-old victim was unlocking the front doors to the shop in Lozells Road, Lozells, when he was attacked from behind.

Police said the man didn’t initially realise he had been stabbed.

It was only while serving customers that he investigated pain in his back and discovered a small knife wound.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance and later released after treatment. Detectives have been baffled by the apparently motiveless attack outside Royal Newsagents at about 7am last Monday.

No attempt was made to rob the man or take anything from his store.

Det Sgt John Balkham, from Thornhill Road CID, said they were trying to trace a man wearing a hooded top over the incident.

“This seems like a random attack,” he said. “The newsagent was opening the shop when he was approached from behind by an unknown male. He thought he was punched in the back and carried on into the shop where he started serving customers. It was only then did he realise he had suffered a very small stab wound.”

The youth was last seen running off in the direction of Wilton Street.