After a night out with friends in central London in the early hours of Sunday, Zara Aleena, 35, was attacked and followed down the street as she made her way to her mother’s home in Cranbrook Road, Ilford, where she later passed away from severe head injuries.
Her death has devastated her family and led to a 36-hour manhunt that was finally over yesterday afternoon with the capture of a local man, 29, on suspicion of her murder. He’s still being held today.
A neighbor who lived across the street gave police surveillance footage of the assault. The person approached from behind and was following her, he said, according to The Times. The main road was where it occurred. He gave her several punches.
Investigators are of the opinion that the perpetrator just used his fists and no other weapons. Although authorities declined to say if Zara had been raped or otherwise sexually assaulted, it is believed that her murder was motivated by sexual desire.
The unprovoked assault on Miss Aleena is already being contrasted with the killings of marketing manager Sarah Everard, 33, and teacher Sabina Nessa, 28, both of whom were attacked while walking alone in London. They were both victims of opportunistic murderers who picked them at random.
Nadia, a 42-year-old schoolteacher and Miss Aleena’s friend, said: “Nothing like that has ever happened here. She just decided to walk home because it was close by.”
She wanted to borrow some heels and mascara that night, but I was too busy to pick up the phone.
She had a kind heart and wouldn’t harm a fly. She had recently graduated from law school and was employed in the heart of London.
She desired a legal career in order to support her family and herself.
A 29-year-old man who had been detained on suspicion of killing the University of Westminster graduate was being questioned by detectives last night.
The family was distraught, according to Miss Aleena’s relative, who characterized her as a “bubbly, high-empathy person.”
Her eagerness to borrow a pair of high heels and mascara for a night out that ended tragically was remembered by friends.
According to her cousin, who begged not to be identified, Miss Aleena was employed as an administrative officer at the Royal Courts of Justice while she looked for a trainee solicitor position that would enable her to pursue a legal career.
He said, “She was a great lady.” The family is in such shock. She aspired to become a successful lawyer so she could provide for her family.
She was a pleasant, empathic person who was always cheerful and brought life to the room. She was highly devoted to her family and took care of her mother and grandmother.
Miss Aleena was discovered severely assaulted at around 2.44 am in Ilford, northeast London, not far from her home, according to Scotland Yard. She was taken to the hospital by paramedics, but soon after, she passed away from her wounds.
Residents in the vicinity claimed that a helicopter had been flying over the region since 3 a.m. as police searched for Miss Aleena’s murderer.
Mustafa Meric, 56, said that the neighbor of his son’s friend had surveillance footage of the assault that he had sent to the police.
He said, “It’s hardly the safest of places.” I worry about my wife and children. For the time being, I’ve told them to cease coming out late.
It is currently thought that she was the victim of an opportunist stranger attack, according to Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell of Scotland Yard, and there is no proof that any weapons were used.
Combating violence against women and girls is the Met’s top concern. Our officers collaborate with partners daily to increase safety in the city’s public spaces, he continued.
Women should not be required to alter their behavior and should be free to conduct themselves as usual at whatever time of day or night without fear of harm.
Our responsibility is to see to it that this occurs, but officers cannot always be present. I would encourage everyone in our community, but especially women, to report any obtrusive or unwelcome behavior and seek assistance if you feel threatened.
On her LinkedIn profile, Miss Aleena claims to have earned a law degree from the University of Westminster in October of last year.
She was looking for a paralegal or trainee solicitor post even though she has been employed at the Royal Courts of Justice since May.
Sam Tarry, the Labour representative for Ilford South, stated: “It appears to be a random attack.” This is unusual in a lot of ways. The local government and the Met are doing everything they can to protect the populace and apprehend the offender.
“We will stop at nothing to honor this woman who lost her life in the most heinous way,” the group said.
‘People do need to be reassured – there will be a flood of police on the streets. I don’t think people should be bowed or cowed into fear, but of course people are going to be scared.
‘I would say to people, check your cameras, your dashcams, any small clue could help.’
Rafia Ahmed, who lives nearby, said she and her friends will now only walk in groups at night.
‘Because it’s literally on our doorstep it scares you. As a female you think twice about going out by yourself’, she told the BBC.
Shopkeeper Kuldip Singh said he was concerned by the level of violence in the area.
He said: ‘This one was quite brutal. It was a young lady but people don’t really feel safe in this location as much as they used to.
‘If I was an elderly person or a female, especially in the winter months, walking through this road you could be at risk.’
Subhash, 60, who lives just off Cranbrook Road, said he ‘worries’ for other local women. He said: ‘It’s not just my daughter, it’s other daughters, other girls, other women in the area. It’s quite a serious matter, how safe are you in your own area.’