Man arrested after woman and child ‘stabbed to death’ in north London

Emergency services found a woman and child with stab wounds

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the deaths of a woman and five-year-old child in Barnet, north London.

London Ambulance Service said it had been called to an address in Brookside South on Tuesday afternoon. They attended, alongside the London Air Ambulance, and found a woman and child who both had stab wounds.

They were both pronounced dead at the scene. They are understood to be mother and daughter.

A 37-year old man, believed to have been known to the victims, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, the force said.

The deaths of the woman and child on the residential street has left people in the area feeling scared and left one neighbour in tears.

Rummana Chowdhury, 37, said: “I don’t know them, it’s definitely very sad, it’s shameful. I can’t believe this, it’s unbelievable.

“It’s scary and sad as well because this morning everything was OK and suddenly this happened.”

Becky, 39, who was in tears at the police cordon, said of her neighbours: “Oh my God, it’s just shocking, it really is.

“I’m a mother of two girls, similar age (to the child victim), they have never played but they have met them before.

“I have cried so much, earlier in particular when I heard that a child was involved, that was devastating.”

Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, policing commander for the North West including Barnet, said: “The whole community will be shocked and saddened to hear of this terrible incident.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman and child who have died and also with the officers and paramedics who were first to arrive at what was an incredibly challenging scene.

“Specialist detectives are working to establish what took place and a man is in custody. While they are keeping an open mind as to what has taken place, I would like to reassure residents in the local area that there is nothing to indicate, at this stage, that anyone else was involved in this incident.

“I would urge anyone who saw or heard anything unusual earlier today, or in recent days, to come forward and speak to the police. Your information could be vital as the investigation moves forward.”

Information can be provided to police by calling 101 with the reference 3590/21JUN.