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| - A 27-year-old man appeared in court on Wednesday charged with murder and seven counts of attempted murder after a mass stabbing in Birmingham, Britain's second city. One man died and seven others were injured in the attacks, which happened over a 90-minute period in four locations across the city centre early Sunday morning. Zephaniah McLeod made no plea and spoke only to confirm his personal details during a five-minute court appearance before magistrates via video link. He was remanded in custody until a further hearing on Thursday. University graduate Jacob Billington, 23, died of a stab wound to the neck sustained on a night out with school friends, West Midlands Police say. Another 23-year-old man attacked in the same location was critically ill in hospital and a 22-year-old was critical but stable, the force said as it announced charges on Tuesday night. A third victim, a man aged 30, was in a serious condition while four other people who were wounded were discharged, it added. The attacks came amid concern about rising levels of knife crime in Britain, particularly in the capital, London. In the year to the end of March, attacks in England and Wales rose six percent, according to government statistics. phz/jj/bp
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