Two children are in hospital and a local charity leader has died following a gas explosion and stabbing in Stoke Newington.
Annabel Rook was found with fatal stab wounds in a house on Dumont Road by police around 5am today (June 17).
Officers had originally attended the house following a gas explosion and reports that a person was trapped.
Following the blast, two children - aged nine and seven - were taken to hospital as a precaution.
They are not believed to have been inside the house at the time of the explosion and their current medical condition is not known.
A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
He remains in hospital being treated for “slash wounds” that are neither life-changing nor threatening.
One resident told the Sun: “I knew them and their kids very well. We are in complete shock. Our daughter was their babysitter.
“Smoke was billowing around the street and we had to shut all our windows.
“It is lucky nothing happened to nobody else.”
Miles Rebeiro, 27, recently moved to the area and said: "I can only imagine the fear and shock those poor children must be going through.”
Jessie, 25, added: “It's not the sort of thing you expect to happen on a sunny Tuesday morning. Those poor kids.”
Ms Rook was co-founder of MamaSuze, a charity working with survivors of domestic violence, migrants and asylum seekers.
Its website says the charity “aims to provide a welcoming, joyful space where women can socially interact, be creative and play together, strengthening confidence, resilience and identity”.
Stoke Newington Church Street was closed this morning (June 17) but reopened both ways at 9.40am.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 926/17June or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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