Footage from surveillance cameras show a man following a woman minutes before she was brutally attacked and murdered.

Toronto police released the video Tuesday afternoon in hopes of getting the public's help in identifying the suspect.

The murder victim -- a woman in her 50s -- was likely walking home from work when she was stabbed by a knife-wielding man at around 7 a.m. Tuesday, Toronto police said.

The video shows a woman walking in the rain underneath an umbrella at 6:56 a.m. A few seconds later a man dressed in black with what looks to be a bandanna around his neck walks behind her and reaches into his jacket's breast pocket. The time stamp at that moment shows 6:57 a.m.

Det. Sgt. Gary Giroux told reporters at a news conference earlier in the day that the attack appears to have been unprovoked.

The woman died in hospital after she was repeatedly stabbed near Wellesley Street East and Parliament Street in Cabbagetown.

According to EMS officials, the woman suffered stab wounds to her arm and torso.

The murder weapon has not been recovered.

Footage from local surveillance cameras show the woman walking alone in the area. At one point, the footage shows a man following her from behind.

People who live in the area said they heard screams coming from an alley off of Ontario Street, where the woman was attacked.

A witness called 911 after seeing a man assaulting a woman in the alley, police told CP24.

At the scene, a man told CP24 he and a friend came upon the attack after they heard the victim’s screams.

The man said his friend tried to fend off the knife-wielding suspect with an umbrella before the assailant ran away from the scene.

Police confirmed the woman's attacker was scared off by at least one citizen.

Giroux said it is too early in their investigation to determine if the attack was planned, random or executed by a stranger.

Meanwhile, police are asking the public for help in locating the suspect. The wanted man is described by police as being white, about five-foot-10, and wearing dark clothing and a baseball cap. Giroux said there is a strong possibility the man has blood on his clothes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

With files from CP24 reporter Katie Simpson

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