London bloodbath: Woman stabbed to death in Battersea flat - man arrested
A WOMAN has been stabbed to death at a flat in a quiet residential street in Battersea, south west London.
Battersea: Emergency services cordon scene of fatal stabbing
Armed police and paramedics were called to a home in Lavender Hill near Clapham Junction, this afternoon after receiving reports of a stabbing.
Medics battled to save the woman's life for more than an hour, but despite their efforts, she died at the scene.
The victim is believed to be a mother of two, with the youngest child just three months old.
The flat in Grayshott Road is located in London's affluent 'Nappy Valley', an area named after the high number of families with young children.
Police told residents the attack was not gang-related.
A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
A neighbour said someone had called the police after hearing screaming and shouting from the end-terrace flat.
He added: “Everyone's had their windows open because it's warm, so I guess someone might have heard it.
“It's only a one bedroom flat, so I'm not sure if the children would have lived there.”
Grayshott Road was sealed off as forensics officers combed the house for evidence while shocked residents looked on from behind the police cordon.
The murder probe launched today is the 90th such investigation undertaken by the Metropolitan Police so far this year.
A force spokeswoman said: "Police were called on Wednesday, 15 August at 12.38pm to a report of a stabbing at an address in Grayshott Road, SW11.
"Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance.
"A woman was found with a stab injury. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.41pm.
"A 40-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.
"The Homicide and Major Crime Command have been informed."
The woman has yet to be formally identified. Police said a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
Vickie Foot, a 43-year-old who lives nearby, described the killing as "absolutely shocking" and said she saw the arrest.
The mother-of-three said: ”They handcuffed him and put him into the van. He looked quite calm.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We sent an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic, a single responder in a car and an ambulance crew. We also dispatched London's air ambulance.
"Sadly, despite the efforts of our medics, a person died at the scene."