Witnesses ‘desperately tried to save’ woman, 60, after she was stabbed to death ‘for her handbag’ at busy bus stop
WITNESSES desperately tried to save a woman after she was brutally stabbed to death at a bus stop “for her handbag”.
The woman in her 60s is yet to be named after she was allegedly attacked in broad daylight in London by a 22-year-old man.
He has now been arrested on suspicion of murder after the horror attack unfolded at around 11.50am yesterday.
Onlookers watched in shock as the attack was brutally carried out in broad daylight on the busy street.
Passers by reportedly rushed to help and asked the woman whether she could hear them as she bled out.
Footage taken soon after the attack shows passers by rushing to help, reports MaiOnline.
It reportedly shows the woman lying motionless in the middle of the road in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware.
A number of people are crowded around her trying to administer first aid and save her life.
Those heroically trying to save the woman can be heard asking her “Darling, are you here? Can you hear me?”
Nearby hair salon worker Jess Bloom watched the attack take place.
She said: “The guy was trying to get her handbag but she said: ‘No’, and fought back. I saw her pull the handbag twice. He pulled her into the road and stabbed her three times.
“He let go of her and she dropped to the ground. She was covered in blood and his hand was red. He ran off and everyone ran to the woman to help her. I heard the scream.”
Another witness stated the woman had received stab wounds to the throat and chest and heard the dying woman plead “help me”.
The alleged attacker was arrested in Colindale yesterday afternoon only hours after the attack.
Detective Superintendent Tony Bellis from the Met said the arrest came about as a result of fast work by detectives and local officers.
He said: “The investigation remains in its early stages, and we continue to work to establish why this incident took place, including whether the person responsible was known to the woman who died.
“I would urge people to refrain from speculating about the circumstances while this work is ongoing.
“A family has been left devastated by this shocking attack and my thoughts are with them at this unimaginabley difficult time.”
An eyewitness told Metro about the attack saying: “A man attacked a woman at a bus stop. She was stabbed several times.
“The woman fell down and the man ran away, chased by two people taking videos. The woman died after maybe 20 minutes.”
Another witness said the stabbing happened during what appeared to be a mugging.
London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance both rushed to treat the woman.
Anyone with information that could assist police with this investigation is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD3105/9May.
You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.