Police Release Image in Urgent Search After Birmingham Supermarket Stabbing
West Midlands Police have issued an urgent public appeal and released an image of a man they wish to speak to following a violent robbery in Birmingham that left a supermarket worker with serious stab wounds.
Serious Incident at Heron Foods in Shard End
The incident occurred at the Heron Foods store located at the corner of Heathland Avenue and Heath Way in the Shard End area of Birmingham. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 10:05am on Thursday, 5th February, after reports of a stabbing during a robbery.
West Midlands Ambulance Service dispatched a significant response team, including one ambulance, two paramedic officers, and a MERIT trauma doctor accompanied by a critical care paramedic. Upon arrival, they found one male patient with serious injuries. The man, a shop employee, was treated at the scene before being transported to hospital for further medical care.
Police Investigation and Public Appeal
Detectives have launched a full investigation into the robbery and assault. As part of their enquiries, they are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and speaking to potential witnesses who may have seen the incident or events leading up to it.
Police have identified Reece Allen, aged 31, as a person of interest in connection with the case. They believe Allen has links to the Winson Green area of Birmingham and are urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward immediately.
"We'd like to speak to the 31-year-old about a robbery where a man was stabbed on Heathland Avenue, Shard End, yesterday morning," stated a Birmingham Police spokesperson. "We believe Allen has links to the Winson Green area."
Community Response and Safety Concerns
The violent nature of this incident has raised concerns within the local community about safety and security for retail workers. The attack occurred during what appears to be a robbery attempt, leaving the employee with a knife wound to his stomach that required hospital treatment.
Heron Foods has been contacted for a statement regarding the incident and any security measures they may be implementing in response. The company operates numerous stores across the Midlands region, with this particular location serving the Shard End community.
How to Help the Investigation
West Midlands Police are asking anyone who sees Reece Allen or has information about his location to call 999 immediately, quoting crime reference number 20/137209/26. They emphasize that members of the public should not approach Allen directly but should instead contact authorities with any relevant information.
The police continue to appeal for witnesses who may have been in the Heathland Avenue area around 10am on Thursday morning, or anyone with dashcam or private CCTV footage that might assist their investigation.
