Mum-of-two charity boss found stabbed to death in house after it exploded in ‘gas blast' is pictured – as man arrested

Scottish Sun

5 hours ago

Neighbours heard 'massive bangs' before firefighters arrived at the scene
'MURDER' PROBE Mum-of-two charity boss found stabbed to death in house after it exploded in 'gas blast' is pictured – as man arrested
A WOMEN'S charity boss was knifed to death in her home before it was blown up in a suspected gas explosion.
Mum-of-two Annabel Rook, 46, was killed in the early hours of this morning after suffering severe stab wounds before her terraced home was exploded and caught fire.
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Police at the scene in Stoke Newington today
Credit: PA
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Women's Charity boss Annabel Rook died
Credit: linkedin
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The scene on Dumont Road
Credit: PA
Some 40 firefighters scrambled to the scene to put out a blaze which started an hour after neighbours heard 'massive bangs' from the peaceful family home in Stoke Newington, North London.
Two children, aged seven and nine, were taken to hospital as a precaution, but are not currently believed to have been in the building during the explosion.
Ms Rook was the co-founder and head of the refugee and women's charity MamaSuze, and had worked with 'marginalised and displaced people' for more than two decades.
Neighbours in the leafy London suburb told The Sun they heard a 'massive bang' before paramedics attempted to resucitate Ms Rook on the street outside her £1million home.
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One said: 'I knew them and their kids very well. We are in complete shock. Our daughter was their babysitter.
'Smoke was billowing around the street and we had to shut all our windows.
'It is lucky nothing happened to nobody else.'
Ms Rook was the head of several special projects at the accomplished charity including its well-regarded theatre productions.
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In a post on social media, she had written: 'I have been working with marginalised and displaced people for over 20 years.
'I believe the ability to play and create should be a fundamental human right and in my work I aim to enable people to be creative and help them find their voice.
'At MamaSuze, we strive to create a joyful, inclusive space dedicated to enhancing the lives of women and children who are survivors of forced displacement and gender based violence.
'We build a strong community through offering diverse workshops in different art forms that nurture creativity, foster social connections and rebuild confidence and identity.'
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The Metropolitan Police said: "A woman aged 46 was found inside the property with stab wounds.
"Despite the efforts of paramedics, she was sadly declared dead at the scene.
"A 44-year-old man was arrested at the address on suspicion of murder.
"He was taken to hospital with slash wounds where he currently remains. His condition is not life-changing or life-threatening.
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"Two children aged nine and seven have also been taken to hospital as a precaution but are not believed to have been inside the property at the time of the gas explosion."
The Met and London Fire Brigade (LFB) are investigating the cause.