Pictured: Mother found stabbed to death after gas explosion at house

Telegraph

17-06-2025

A woman found fatally stabbed in a house after a gas explosion was the co-founder of a charity that worked with domestic violence victims.
Annabel Rook, 46, a mother of two, has been named locally after she was found dead in a property in Stoke Newington, north London.
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to reports of an explosion early on Tuesday morning after a blast ripped through the corner property on Dumont Road.
When officers gained entry to the house, police said they discovered a woman suffering from stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, she was declared dead at the scene.
Rook was the co-founder of Mamasuze, an arts-based charity run by an all-female team that works with victims of gender-based violence, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
Rook had lived in the house since 2012 and was a popular member of the community.
On one of her social media pages, she described herself as a 'teacher, educationist, sailor, traveller, theatregoer'.
She studied history of art at Bristol University and graduated in 2001.
A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital to be treated for slash wounds.
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.
A nearby property developer, who did not wished to be named, said he had known Rook ever since she moved into the house.
He said: 'She was your typical doting Mum.
'It's incredibly sad what happened to her and the local community is shocked... I can't believe what happened.'
Halil Youdjel, 29, who lives a few doors down from where the gas explosion occurred, said: 'My whole flat was shaking.
'I thought a car had slammed into a wall.
'I went outside and there was smoke and glass everywhere.
Properties on the street in north London have sold for around £1.5 million.
Another resident on Dumont Road said he heard a crash 'like somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane'.
The man, who did not wish to be named, added: 'I looked out and saw panes of glass on the floor. You could tell it wasn't a car window.
'Eventually I noticed the beam on the bay window was missing and could see some mild smoke coming out of the back.
'People starting arriving and saying to phone the police.
'There was a guy rushing around, very distraught. He went round the back.'