Police have launched a manhunt after a mother was stabbed to death in Bethnal Green, east London, while her children were on their way to school. The alarm sounded at 16:06 on Thursday, after the 40-year-old mother failed to pick up her children from school, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Police then went to a Globe Road address where they found the woman with stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of the London Ambulance Service, her death was confirmed at the scene. She has not yet been officially identified, although her closest relatives have been informed and an autopsy will be performed on Saturday.
READ MORE
Police added that no arrests have been made and the crime scene remains at its headquarters. Chief Inspector Detective Lawrence Smith, who led the investigation, said it was “heartbreaking” that “another” woman had been killed. “A dedicated team of officers is working around the clock to find the person responsible for this and my thoughts are with this woman’s family as they come to terms with their tragic loss,” he said. “It is heartbreaking that another woman was killed. “All women and girls have the right to feel safe, at any time, day or night, in public or at home, and we will do everything we can to find those responsible.” A neighbor said the woman had lived there for 10 years, adding: “She was a nice lady, with no problems. She had a partner and an ex-partner also visited. We are in absolute shock. “ A father of four, 33, said: “She has children at the front desk and a year with my children. “I saw two teachers from the school knocking on the door without answering. Then the police came and knocked on the door. When I found out what happened I was devastated. There is a deep sadness in my heart. “My children are worried about their friends who lost their mother. It is a tragedy.” A resident on Friday said: “I heard voices and what sounded like a desperate cry and then complete silence. There were so many cops everywhere then shortly after. It was really shocking. “I can not believe that a woman died, we are a close community here and our prayers are with the woman’s family.” Another said: “There was a noise from the block, like a quarrel, but to be honest it is normal around here. I wondered what had happened when I saw the police arrive, there seemed to be dozens of them. “We are devastated to believe that one of our neighbors died this way.” The scene on Globe Road on Friday morning / John Dunne / Evening Standard The death comes amid a series of stabbings in the capital on Thursday, including a man found with stab wounds at the Asda Superstore in Fort Wembley, Wembley. The 20-year-old man was estimated to have suffered life-threatening injuries shortly after 5:30 p.m. and was rushed to hospital. Meanwhile, a video appeared on social media showing a quarrel outside the Tooting Broadway subway station. When police arrived at 3.12pm, they could not find any victims of the clash. However, a 30-year-old man was later taken to hospital with a non-life-threatening knife wound, which police believe was linked to the incident outside the station. Separately, a 17-year-old boy was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following an incident in Northampton Park, Islington. He was later arrested on suspicion of possessing an assault rifle.
