Two men stabbed to death in front of hundreds of shocked shoppers in Birmingham on Friday were Big Issue sellers, the magazine revealed.
A 23-year-old was in custody after being arrested in New Street, near the city’s Odeon cinema, shortly after the attack at 5.50pm.
Post-mortem examinations on the two unidentified men, aged in their 30s, are due to take place shortly.
Big Issue founder John Bird said that magazine staff were “absolutely devastated” about the deaths.
“We are struggling to make any sense of this utterly senseless attack and our sincerest condolences go out to the families of the victims,” he said.
“This awful crime, perpetrated against two hard-working, 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.”
Stabbed Birmingham men were Big Issue sellers
