Mother stabbed to death with a child in her arms

A MOTHER was yesterday stabbed to death in the street in front of her three children – yards from a primary school.

The woman in her 30s is believed to have been holding one child in her arms when she was knifed in broad daylight on a suburban road by a man who jumped out of a car and attacked her.

Locals claimed on social media that she was attacked in front of her children close to their primary school in Stoneleigh, Surrey, while doing the school run at around 3pm.

Reports suggested it was a domesticrelated attack. One neighbour near the murder scene, who did not want to be named, said: ‘It was outside my house. The body was out there for some time.’ The victim was airlifted to hospital but doctors were unable to save her. Two hours after the stabbing, armed police arrested a man on suspicion of murder a mile from the scene. He was found in a van near Cheam Leisure Centre at 5.15pm. A second man was later arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Yesterday a member of staff at the leisure centre described how armed police raced towards the white van and drew their guns. The employee, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘It was unbelievable. The armed men got out and were pointing their guns at a white van, closing in and shouting, before making the arrest. It looked very efficient, very professional. It was over in just a few minutes. There didn’t seem to be much sign of a struggle. They did very well.’

One Facebook user wrote: ‘People are saying it’s an- ex partner and that she had three children with her – one in her arms.’

Chief Inspector Michael Hodder said: ‘This was a tragic and shocking incident in which a woman has lost her life after being attacked in broad daylight.’