Woman stabbed to death before gas explosion named

A woman found stabbed after a gas explosion at her home has been named as a charity worker who supported refugees.

Annabel Rook, 46, was found fatally injured at a house in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, north London, just before 05:00 BST.

She worked for a charity she co-founded called Mama Suze CIC, which supports refugee and migrant women, some who have fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities.

A 44-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was taken with slash wounds to hospital, where his condition is not life-threatening, the Met Police said. The force believes Ms Rook's death was "a domestic-related incident".

Two children aged seven and nine were also taken to hospital as a precaution but are not thought to have been inside the home when the explosion happened.

John Martin, who worked with Ms Rook for about a decade before she set up her charity, said the news of her death was "devastating".

"She came to us a volunteer trainee interested in using drama and working with groups of trafficked women," said Mr Martin, the artistic director of the charity Pan Intercultural Arts.

"She was a very lively, bubbly, enthusiastic person, full of confidence and a desire to make women's lives better, especially those who have been through the hell of being trafficked."

He added: "She certainly brought a lot of not just happiness but development in these women's lives."

Neighbour Caroline Lacey told the BBC the house where the explosion happened was home to a family.

"It's very, very sad... they're a young couple, they've got young children, so it's a shock... it's tragic."

Teacher Alun Gordon said: "We just woke up to a massive bang... my whole house shook, it felt like a truck had hit the house.

"I then heard screams, someone shouting 'oh my God' several times, so I came outside and basically all the neighbours appeared in their pyjamas.

"We quickly established that the children got out, that there'd been marital strife."

He added: "My daughter babysat for her and we would chat to her as a neighbour. It's a massive tragedy for the street."

One resident said he heard a crash "like somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane".

The man, who did not want to be named, added: "I looked out and saw panes of glass on the floor.

"Eventually I noticed the beam on the bay window was missing and could see some mild smoke coming out of the back.

"People starting arriving and saying to phone the police."

Det Ch Supt Brittany Clarke described the incident as "extremely tragic" and extended her condolences to Ms Rook's family.

"Our officers arrested a man on suspicion of murder at the scene and will be conducting interviews as soon as possible, to establish the full circumstances that led to Annabel's death," she added.

With additional reporting from PA Media.

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