Woman stabbed to death at London bus stop by man ‘trying to steal handbag’
Forensics officers at the scene of the stabbing in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware – Nigel Howard Media
A woman in her 60s who was fatally stabbed in north London on Thursday was attacked by a man who tried to steal her handbag, a witness has claimed.
The Metropolitan Police said emergency crews were called to reports of a stabbing in Burnt Oak Broadway, in Edgware, near the junction of Limesdale Gardens, at 11.50am.
Land and air ambulance officers attended the incident and treated the woman for stab injuries, but she died at the scene.
Jess Bloom, who was working at a hair salon opposite the scene, told The Times she saw the woman being stabbed three times by a man as he attempted to take her handbag.
Ms Bloom told the paper: “It happened at the bus stop and the woman ended up in the middle of the road.
“The guy was trying to get her handbag, but she said ‘no’ and fought back. I saw her pull the handbag twice. He pulled her into the road and stabbed her three times.
“He let go of her and she dropped to the ground. She was covered in blood and his hand was red. He ran off and everyone ran to the woman to help her. I heard the scream.”
‘He just pulled out this dagger’
Another witness who works in a shop by the bus stop said he had rushed out when he heard screaming.
The man, who did not want to give his name, said: “I heard this awful screaming so I ran outside and the woman was on the floor. The man who did it walked away really slowly, really calmly at first, but then people started shouting at him and he ran.”
One female onlooker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I saw the whole thing. He tried to mug her. The man tried to grab her bag and she resisted – an instinct, probably, trying to save her things. But then he just pulled out this dagger and stabbed her multiple times.
“It’s such a terrible, terrible thing. She was in her 60s, probably out doing a few errands. She had no idea that she would never come home.”
A 22-year-old man was arrested in the Colindale area on Thursday afternoon and remains in custody.
Detective Superintendent Tony Bellis said: “This is a significant development in this investigation and comes as a result of fast-time work from specialist detectives working alongside local officers.
“The investigation remains in its early stages, and we continue to work to establish why this incident took place, including whether the person responsible was known to the woman who died. I would urge people to refrain from speculating about the circumstances while this work is ongoing.
“A family has been left devastated by this shocking attack, and my thoughts are with them at this unimaginably difficult time.”
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