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| Ilford: Woman killed in stranger attack named as Zara Aleena, 35 | Ilford: Woman killed in stranger attack named as Zara Aleena, 35 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Zara Aleena is believed to have been the victim of a stranger attack while walking in east London | Zara Aleena is believed to have been the victim of a stranger attack while walking in east London |
| A 35-year-old woman who died from severe head injuries after what police believe was a stranger attack in east London has been named as Zara Aleena. | A 35-year-old woman who died from severe head injuries after what police believe was a stranger attack in east London has been named as Zara Aleena. |
| Ms Aleena, who was local, was the victim of an "horrific assault", police said, as she was walking on Cranbrook Road, towards Gants Hill station in Ilford, in the early hours of Sunday. | Ms Aleena, who was local, was the victim of an "horrific assault", police said, as she was walking on Cranbrook Road, towards Gants Hill station in Ilford, in the early hours of Sunday. |
| The Met Police said it believed she was a "victim of an attack by a stranger". Her family has been informed. | The Met Police said it believed she was a "victim of an attack by a stranger". Her family has been informed. |
| A 29-year-old man has been arrested. | A 29-year-old man has been arrested. |
| Officers said he was detained at an address in Ilford shortly after 16:00 BST and was being held on suspicion of murder. | Officers said he was detained at an address in Ilford shortly after 16:00 BST and was being held on suspicion of murder. |
| Paramedics were at the scene at 02:45 BST on Sunday and took Ms Aleena to hospital, where she later died. | Paramedics were at the scene at 02:45 BST on Sunday and took Ms Aleena to hospital, where she later died. |
| The area around Cranbrook Road has been cordoned off | The area around Cranbrook Road has been cordoned off |
| In a statement, Chief Supt Stuart Bell said: "Zara, who lived locally, was walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station when she was assaulted. | In a statement, Chief Supt Stuart Bell said: "Zara, who lived locally, was walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station when she was assaulted. |
| "It is now believed that she was the victim of an attack by a stranger. | "It is now believed that she was the victim of an attack by a stranger. |
| No evidence of weapon | No evidence of weapon |
| "Her family are aware of this and as the investigation progresses they will continue to be updated and supported." | "Her family are aware of this and as the investigation progresses they will continue to be updated and supported." |
| He added there was no evidence of any weapons being used in the attack, which left Ms Aleena with fatal head injuries. | He added there was no evidence of any weapons being used in the attack, which left Ms Aleena with fatal head injuries. |
| A post-mortem examination revealed Ms Aleena had "suffered multiple serious injuries". | A post-mortem examination revealed Ms Aleena had "suffered multiple serious injuries". |
| Earlier, Chief Supt Bell said the investigation was being led by homicide detectives. | Earlier, Chief Supt Bell said the investigation was being led by homicide detectives. |
| A police presence will remain in the area, the Met says | A police presence will remain in the area, the Met says |
| "I understand that for women, particularly locally, this is an incredibly distressing incident, and I urge you to be alert but not alarmed." | "I understand that for women, particularly locally, this is an incredibly distressing incident, and I urge you to be alert but not alarmed." |
| He said officers were working "at pace" to establish what had happened. | He said officers were working "at pace" to establish what had happened. |
| 'Don't feel safe' | 'Don't feel safe' |
| Shopkeeper Kuldip Singh said he was concerned at the level of violence in the area, highlighting how this homicide was the third in five years. | Shopkeeper Kuldip Singh said he was concerned at the level of violence in the area, highlighting how this homicide was the third in five years. |
| Shopkeeper Kuldip Singh says he worries for the safety of women and the elderly in particular | Shopkeeper Kuldip Singh says he worries for the safety of women and the elderly in particular |
| "This one was quite brutal," he said. "It was a young lady but people don't really feel safe in this location as much as they used to. | "This one was quite brutal," he said. "It was a young lady but people don't really feel safe in this location as much as they used to. |
| "If I was an elderly person or a female, especially in the winter months, walking through this road you could be at risk." | "If I was an elderly person or a female, especially in the winter months, walking through this road you could be at risk." |
| Subhash, 60, who lives just off Cranbrook Road, said he was woken up by a helicopter at around 03:00 and said he "worries" for other local women because this is "happening on my doorstep". | Subhash, 60, who lives just off Cranbrook Road, said he was woken up by a helicopter at around 03:00 and said he "worries" for other local women because this is "happening on my doorstep". |
| "It's not just my daughter, it's other daughters, other girls, other women in the area," he said. | "It's not just my daughter, it's other daughters, other girls, other women in the area," he said. |
| "It's quite a serious matter, how safe are you in your own area." | "It's quite a serious matter, how safe are you in your own area." |
| A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder | A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder |
| A significant police presence is expected to remain in the area in the coming days. | A significant police presence is expected to remain in the area in the coming days. |
| Of London's 46 homicide victims so far this year, 16 (35%) have been women, according to data collected from the Met Police, British Transport Police and City of London Police. | |
| By the same time last year, there had been 58 London homicide victims, 12 (21%) of whom were female, according to the data. | |
| Detectives said they were keen to hear from anyone who was in the Cranbrook Road area between 02:00 and 03:00, particularly those with dashcam footage. | |
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