Zara Aleena, 35, was assaulted while strolling along Cranbrook Road in Ilford, east London, near Gants Hill station. Later, she died in the hospital.
According to her acquaintances, the woman who was allegedly murdered by a stranger early on Sunday morning had a “gentle soul.”
A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in an “opportunistic stranger attack,” according to police.
Her friend Sophie commented, “She was the kindest and most optimistic person you could ever meet.”
“She illuminated the entire room,” she added. She could converse with anyone for hours.
On Sunday at approximately 02:45 BST, Ms. Aleena, a resident, was discovered by members of the public and paramedics responded to the assault scene.
Ch Supt Stuart Bell stated in a statement, “It is now thought she was the victim of an opportunistic stranger attack. Her family is aware of this, and they will be kept informed.”
He stated that there was no proof that any weapons were used in the assault that resulted in Ms. Aleena’s tragic head injuries.
A postmortem assessment indicated that she suffered “many severe injuries.”
A friend of the victim told that she declined a taxi ride home, opting instead to walk the two-mile distance. Ms. Aleena was renowned for being a swift walker who enjoyed walking.
Ch Supt Bell stated that a comprehensive forensic assessment of the crime scene and surrounding area had been conducted, as well as house-to-house interviews, while police worked “at pace” to determine what had occurred.
Other friends of Ms. Aleena described her as “very kind and lovely, she never spoke ill of anyone.”
Karina, who did not disclose her last name, and Sherit Nair characterized her as someone who cared for and looked after all of her friends and was a “lifeline” for her mother and grandmother since she did all of their shopping and managed their medicine.
The friends, who had known Ms. Aleena for years, reported that she graduated in October after years of rigorous study and had just been employed at the Royal Courts of Justice for a few weeks.
They suspect she was on her way home following a night out with friends when she was attacked, and she preferred to walk rather than drive.
Rafia Ahmed, a resident, stated that she and her friends were concerned about their safety and whether or not they should only venture out in groups.
“It terrifies you because it is actually on our doorstep. As a woman, you hesitate before venturing out alone”.
According to data collected by the Met Police, British Transport Police, and the City of London Police, a third of London’s 45 homicide victims in 2022 were female.
By the same time last year, there had been 58 homicide victims in London, 12 of them were female, including Sarah Everard, who was murdered by a police officer, and Sabina Nessa, a primary school teacher.
In the following days, a large police presence is anticipated to continue in the region.
Ch Supt Bell stated that he understood Ms. Aleena’s death to be a “terrifying incident”.
It is our responsibility to ensure that women do not have to alter their behavior and can go about their business feeling safe at whatever time of day or night.
“Officers cannot be present everywhere at all times. We urge members of the community, particularly women, to report any suspicious or unwanted behavior or to seek assistance if they feel endangered”.
