A murder investigation has been launched after a young woman was stabbed to death near a primary school in Ealing.
The Metropolitan Police were called at 12.10am on Tuesday following reports of a stabbing in an alleyway off Church Gardens, South Ealing.
Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance and found the woman had suffered multiple stab injuries. Despite their best efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody at a west London police station.
Officers are confident they know the woman's identity and are in the process of informing her next of kin.
A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course and a crime scene remains in place and enquiries are ongoing.
Residents living in and around the crime scene spoke of being “shocked” by the incident in an area they said was usually very quiet.
“My house backs straight into the crime scene, I was so scared when I found out this morning to this happened right where we were sleeping,” Lara Beattie, 31 told The Independent. “It’s such a lovely and quiet area, it’s mainly just elderly people and couples living on this street [Church Gardens],” she added.
“If I had heard any shouting or screaming, I would have thought it just came from the pub, I would have never thought someone was getting hurt in this area. It’s absolutely awful.”
Other residents in the area said they heard shouting and “commotion” after midnight, before subsequently hearing police sirens and helicopters.
A woman, whose house backs onto the crime scene and requested not to be named said she heard “a load of people shouting” during the night.
Lib Dem councillor John Ball tweeted: “Very sad this morning to hear about the murder that took place last night in Robert’s Alley, South Ealing. Such a tragedy.
“Grange School, Grange Nursery and Grange Pre-School are within the police cordon so are closed today.”
Teachers posted on Grange School’s website: “Urgent - school is closed today due to a serious incident.”
West Area BCU Commander Sean Wilson who is responsible for policing in Ealing said: “This is a truly shocking incident which will understandably cause significant concern among the local community and Londoners as a whole.
“Violence of any kind, but particularly against women and girls, has a profound impact on communities and this will understandably impact on the confidence of those in the area going about their daily business.
“I want to reassure the Ealing community that a team of specialist homicide detectives have commenced an investigation and they will use their skills and experience to ensure that whoever is responsible is brought to justice.
“My local officers will also be in and around the area in South Ealing; if you have any concerns I would encourage you to approach them and speak to them. You can also speak to your local neighbourhood policing team or dial 101.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 77/17May. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
