Passers-by asked a woman in her 60s who had been fatally stabbed in broad daylight for her handbag whether she could hear them as they desperately tried to save her life.
The woman, who has not been named, was attacked in north London yesterday after she refused to give a thief her bag.
The Metropolitan Police said it received reports of a stabbing in Burnt Oak Broadway, near the junction of Limesdale Gardens in Edgware at 11.50am.
Land and air ambulance officers treated the woman for stab injuries, but she died at the scene. Her next of kin have been informed.
In graphic footage, members of the public can be seen rushing to the woman’s aid in the aftermath of the stabbing.
The woman can be seen lying motionless and unresponsive in the middle of the road.
The attack happened at a bus stop in Burnt Oak Broadway, north London, after the woman refused to give up her handbag to thieves
A bunch of flowers were left at the scene in tribute to the woman by Friday morning
Surrounding her are a group of people trying to stem the bleeding with gauze from a first aid box, garments and towels.
‘Darling, are you here? Can you hear me?’ someone asks the woman, as the crowd urgently phone the emergency services.
Others manage the traffic, gesturing for cars to slow down and move around the scene.
Khalif Gureye, who stopped his car shortly after the attack, attended the scene and helped contact the emergency services.
‘It’s horrible,’ he said, adding: ‘I see a lady on the floor and she is bleeding. Some people helped her.’
A 22-year-old man was arrested in the Colindale area on Thursday afternoon and remains in custody.
Jess Bloom, who was working at a hair salon near where the attack took place, told MailOnline she saw the woman get stabbed three times by a man as he attempted to take her handbag.
Ms Bloom said: ‘It happened at the bus stop and the woman ended up in the middle of the road.
The first paramedic arrives within two minutes, but sadly the woman died at the scene
Locals will see an increased police presence in the area, a spokesperson for the Met Police said
A 22-year-old man was arrested in the Colindale area on Thursday afternoon and remains in custody
‘The guy was trying to get her handbag but she said: ‘No’, and fought back. I saw her pull the handbag twice. He pulled her into the road and stabbed her three times.
‘He let go of her and she dropped to the ground. She was covered in blood and his hand was red. He ran off and everyone ran to the woman to help her. I heard the scream.’
The first paramedic arrived within two minutes, but the victim was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Local resident Mohamed Ble, 47, said the woman was left with a stab wound to the throat and two to the chest.
He said: ‘There was a lot of blood, too much blood. I heard a lot of shouting, I did not know what.
‘Then I heard the woman say: “Help me, help me.” It was in a high-pitched voice.’
Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila, leading the investigation for the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: ‘I know that the effects of this incident will be felt throughout the local community and would like to reassure everyone that a man is in custody, and we are not looking for any other suspects.
‘We are working hard to establish the full circumstances and motive for this offence, which we believe to be an isolated incident.’
Superintendent Tony Bellis from the North West Command Unit, responsible for policing Edgware, said: ‘A family has been left devastated by this shocking attack and my thoughts are with them at this unimaginably difficult time.
‘Local people will notice an increased police presence in the area in the coming days to provide reassurance.
‘If you have concerns or just want to speak with officers, please do approach them as they patrol.’
