Woman stabbed to death before gas explosion named by police

A woman found stabbed after a gas explosion at her home has been named as a charity worker who supported refugees.

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

She worked for a charity she co-founded called Mama Suze CIC, which supports refugee and migrant women, some who have fled domestic violence, with art and drama activities.

A 44-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was taken with slash wounds to hospital, where his condition is not life-threatening, the Met Police said. The force believes Ms Rook’s death was “a domestic-related incident”.

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

John Martin, who worked with Ms Rook for about a decade before she set up her charity, said the news of her death was “devastating”.

“She came to us a volunteer trainee interested in using drama and working with groups of trafficked women,” said Mr Martin, the artistic director of the charity Pan Intercultural Arts.

“She was a very lively, bubbly, enthusiastic person, full of confidence and a desire to make women’s lives better, especially those who have been through the hell of being trafficked.”

He added: “She certainly brought a lot of not just happiness but development in these women’s lives.”

Neighbour Caroline Lacey told the BBC the house where the explosion happened was home to a family.

“It’s very, very sad… they’re a young couple, they’ve got young children, so it’s a shock… it’s tragic.”

One local mother said: “It’s a very sad time for everybody, and right on your doorstep as well, it’s scary.”