We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

One man was killed as he reportedly tried to help the 84-year-old woman who was seriously injured after being stabbed in the back as she walked back from a friend’s home in Brentford, west London. The woman, named locally as Betty Walsh, a mother of seven originally from Ireland, was today in hospital in a serious condition as police tried to piece together the events that led to the attacks.

Police and ambulance services were called at around 7.50pm and found the man, who was later pronounced dead at the scene, and woman suffering stab injuries. Mrs Walsh’s injuries were serious, but not assessed as life-threatening.

Paul Moore, who lives nearby, said he helped Mrs Walsh after she and the dead man were attacked. He said: “She was walking home from her friend’s house and she thought the man had pushed her but she had been stabbed in the back. She is a lovely woman. I’ve known her more than 30 years. Everyone knows her.”

He was told the victim had tried to come to the woman’s aid. It is understood the dead man, believed aged in his 20s, was also stabbed before he staggered into a kebab shop.

A man, aged in his 30s, was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder yesterday morning. A Met Police spokesman said: “While enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances, there is nothing to suggest that the incident is linked to terrorism and at present nobody else is sought as a suspect for the stabbings.”

Speaking at the scene yesterday, the woman’s son told reporters: “This is England. This is society”, as he asked police to let him through the cordon to visit his family on the other side. Earlier, her grandson left a bouquet of flowers at the scene.

The spokesman added: “Enquires are also ongoing to establish whether any of those involved were known to each other. Officers believe they know his identity and are providing support to his family. Formal identification will be arranged in due course. A post-mortem examination will commence. An urgent investigation was launched, which is now led by homicide detectives from Specialist Crime.”

DCI Brain Howie said: “I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or had any interaction with the suspect near the scene but has yet to speak with police. Also, anyone who may have footage, whether from doorbells, dashcams or mobile devices, is also urged to check that material and make contact with police should there by anything relevant to our investigation.”

Gerhard Peleschka, the manager of local pub The Griffin, described Mrs Walsh as a “Brentford legend”. He said: “Betty used to work here on match days during the busiest times. She was here until 1978, she was the best barmaid you’d ever meet. She knew everyone, everyone loved her. People knew her for years and years, she’s a Brentford legend. What happened yesterday is just so tragic, because she is so well-known. She is fit as a fiddle. It just blows your mind what happened to her.”

In an unconnected incident, police have launched a murder investigation after a man was fatally stabbed in the Saffron Lane area of Leicester last night. The force was called to a report of a group of people fighting in the street near the junctions with Duncan Road and St Andrews Road shortly before 11.30pm yesterday.

Officers who were sent to investigate the report found the seriously injured man, who was in his 20s, at the scene. He was pronounced dead a short time later. Two men, aged 30 and 23, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Five other men – two aged 34, one aged 32, one aged 30 and a 19-year-old – have been arrested on suspicion of affray. They all remain in custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit is leading the investigation. He said: “Our investigation is very much in its early stages and while a number of people have been arrested, I am very much keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened. This incident occurred on a busy road in the outskirts of Leicester and I am sure that there will have been people passing by who witnessed it.

“I am particularly keen to speak to any motorists who were driving past at the time or anyone who may have filmed the incident on their mobile phone. Any information you have, no matter how insignificant you think it is, could help my investigation.”

Source: Read Full Article