Family pays tribute to mother stabbed before blast

The family of a woman found fatally stabbed after a gas explosion at her home have described her as a "beautiful daughter, sister, friend and mother".

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

In a statement issued through the Metropolitan Police, her family said they were "struggling to come to terms with this terrible tragedy".

A 44-year-old man was arrested at the address on suspicion of murder. He was taken to hospital but later discharged and released into police custody, a Met spokesperson said.

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

Ms Rook worked for a social enterprise she co-founded called MamaSuze, which supports refugee and migrant women, some who have fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities.

Her family said: "Annabel was a truly wonderful woman. She touched the hearts of so many.

"She gave her life to helping the vulnerable and the disadvantaged, whether it was in refugee camps in Africa or setting up MamaSuze in London, to enhance the lives of survivors of forced displacement and gender-based violence."

The Met spokesperson said detectives were continuing with their murder investigation into Ms Rook's death.

Det Ch Supt Brittany Clarke previously described the incident as "extremely tragic".

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