Zara Aleena: Woman killed in Ilford was kind soul, say friends - BBC

A woman killed in a suspected stranger attack in the early hours of Sunday was a "kind soul" friends have said.

Zara Aleena, 35, was assaulted walking along Cranbrook Road, towards Gants Hill station in Ilford, east London.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, in what police say was an "opportunist stranger attack".

In a statement, Ch Supt Stuart Bell said: "It is now believed that she was the victim of an opportunist stranger attack.

Ms Aleena was known as a fast walker and loved walking.

Other friends of Ms Aleena said she was "so soft and gentle, she never had a bad word to say about anyone".

The friends, who had known Ms Aleena for years, said she graduated in October after extensive studying and had only been working at the Royal Courts of Justice for a few weeks.

Rafia Ahmed, who lives nearby, said she and her friends were worried about their safety and whether they should only go out in groups.

A third of London's 45 homicide victims in 2022 have been women, according to data collected by the Met Police, British Transport Police and City of London Police.

Ch Supt Bell said he understood Ms Aleena's death was an "incredibly distressing incident"?

Man arrested after woman killed in stranger attack

Zara Aleena: Best friend says ‘beautiful’ 35-year-old was walking home when killed in Ilford stranger attack