Zara Aleena is believed to have been the victim of a foreign attack while walking in east London
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a suspected foreign attack on a woman in east London.
Zara Aleena, 35, was assaulted as she walked along Cranbrook Road towards Gants Hill station in Ilford in the early hours of Sunday.
Met police believe she was the victim of an “opportunistic alien attack”. She later died at the hospital.
The 29-year-old man was detained at an address in Ilford shortly after noon. 16:00 BST.
Paramedics were at the scene of the attack at. 02:45 BST Sunday, after Aleena, who lived locally, was found by the public.
In a statement, Ch Supt Stuart Bell said: “It is now believed that she was the victim of an opportunistic alien attack. Her family is aware of this and they will continue to be updated.”
He added that there was no evidence that weapons were used during the beating, which left Aleena with fatal head injuries.
An autopsy showed she had “several serious injuries”.
The area around Cranbrook Road has been cordoned off
Ch Supt Bell said a full forensic examination of the site and surrounding area had taken place, as had house-to-house investigations.
Detectives were focused on identifying all available CCTVs and anyone who may have been in the area, including those driving through, should contact Met, he said.
He described the officers working “at a pace” to determine what had happened.
Mrs Aleena’s friends said she was a “lifeline” for her mother and grandmother
Friends of Mrs Aleena said she was “so soft and gentle that she never had a bad word to say about anyone”.
Karina – who did not disclose her last name – and Sherit Nair described her as someone who cared and cared for all her friends and was a “lifeline for her mother and grandmother” when she did all their shopping and arranged their medicine.
The friends, who had known Mrs Aleena for years, said she graduated in October after extensive studies and had only worked at the Royal Courts of Justice for a few weeks.
They believe she was on her way home from a night on the town with friends when she was attacked, adding that she walked everywhere and preferred not to drive.
Store owner Kuldip Singh said he was concerned about the safety of women and the elderly in particular
Rafia Ahmed, who lives nearby, said she and her friends were concerned about their safety and whether they should only go out in groups.
“Because it’s literally right outside our doorstep, it scares you. As a woman, you think twice about going out alone.”
Store owner Kuldip Singh said he was concerned about the extent of violence in the area, highlighting how Mrs Aleena’s death was the third murder in five years.
“This one was pretty brutal,” he said. “It was a young lady, but people do not feel really safe in this place as much as they used to.
“If I was an elderly person or a woman, especially in the winter months, and walked through this road, you could be in danger.”
Subhash, 60, who lives just off Cranbrook Road, said he “cares” about other local women because this “happens right outside the door”.
“It’s not just my daughter, it’s other daughters, other girls, other women in the area,” he said.
“It’s a pretty serious matter how safe you are in your own area.”
A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “crushed” by Aleena’s murder.
“Understandably, women living in the area and across London will feel sad and scared after this horrific attack and the death of another woman at the hands of a man,” he said.
He added that he was in regular contact with the police and urged everyone who was in the area at the time to contact the police.
A significant police presence is expected to remain in the area in the coming days.
Ch Supt Bell said he understood Mrs Aleena’s death was an “incredibly disturbing incident” for women.
“Women should not have to change their behavior and should be able to go about their business and feel safe at any time of the day or night, and it is our job to make sure that happens.
“Officers may not be everywhere at all times. We encourage the community, especially women, to report any suspicious or unwanted behavior or to seek help if you feel threatened.”
Of London’s 46 homicides in 2022, 16 (35%) were women, according to data collected by Met Police, British Transport Police and the City of London Police.
At the same time last year, there had been 58 homicides in London, of which 12 (21%) were women, according to the data.
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