A baby boy was delivered by emergency caesarian section and is fighting for his life in hospital today after his pregnant mother was shot dead with a crossbow.
Eight months pregnant Sana Muhammad was killed in front of her five children as she did the washing up at the family home in Ilford yesterday morning.
Her husband discovered her attacker hiding in the shed around 7.30am and shouted ‘run, run, run’ as he was chased into the kitchen.
The 35-year-old mother-of-five was rushed to hospital and medics delivered her baby son while the arrow was still lodged in her abdomen.
The tiny baby, who relatives have named Ibrahim, is now critically ill in hospital.
The victim’s husband, Imtiaz Muhammad, told The Evening Standard: ‘I can’t help thinking she took my arrow. Maybe it should have hit me. The kids were all there, it was horrific.’
Pregnant Sana Muhammad was shot and killed with a crossbow yesterday. Her unborn baby boy was delivered by emergency Caesarian and is now in intensive care
Mrs Muhammad’s husband, Imtiaz (right), said she was standing at the sink when the arrow hit
Video from the scene showed a man being taken away by police after the attack yesterday
The arrow is said to have passed just inches from the unborn baby’s body.
Mr Muhammad added: ‘The arrow went up into her heart but did not touch the unborn baby. The baby was due in four weeks. They operated with the arrow still in because it would have been too dangerous to take out.’
Neighbours said Mrs Muhammad’s ex-husband, Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, was the man taken away by police yesterday morning.
Heartbroken Mr Muhammad described his partner of seven years as a ‘wonderful mother and wife’.
Friends said she had five children, two with her previous partner, aged 12, 14 and 18, and two with Mr Muhammad, aged two and five.
Neighbour Navneet Buttar, 35, was at home at time of the incident and saw the aftermath.
She said: ‘I saw man come out he was shaking, nervous and he said “help, help”. Then within minutes the police came.’
Ms Buttar described Sana as a ‘very nice lady’, adding: ‘She is my friend on this road. Her kids and my kids go to nursery together.’
Mrs Muhammed’s husband, Imtiaz, said her killer was hiding in the shed before attacking them
Mr Muhammad said he fears the killer may have been aiming for him when he hit his wife
Mrs Muhammad married her husband six years ago. They have two children together and were looking forward to welcoming their third
Friends said the victim converted to Islam seven years ago, shortly before she remarried.
A Met Police spokesman said: ‘A man has been charged with the murder of a woman in Ilford. This follows an incident at an address in Applegarth Drive, Ilford at approximately 07:40hrs on Monday, 12 November.
‘The victim was found suffering an abdominal injury. She was taken to hospital where she later died. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating.
‘No other persons are sought in connection with this investigation. The arrested man and woman were known to each other. Enquiries into the circumstances continue.’
Mrs Muhammad became London’s 120th homicide victim this year, with another killing in Balham last night taking the total number killed in the capital in 2018 to 121.
The killing happened at the family’s terraced home in Ilford, east London yesterday morning
A total of 121 people have been killed in London this year, with the total already beyond the number killed in the whole of last year
It means that with more than a month left to go until the New Year, the total is already above the 118 homicides seen in the capital in 2017.
Experienced detectives say they have been shocked by the volume of violent crime and ferocity of some attacks in the capital this year.
Steve O’Connell, Chairman of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee said today: ‘We have reached the depressing situation where London has seen the numbers of people killed so far this year reach the same total as for the whole of last year.
‘This is a tragedy not only for those most affected, the family and friends of the victims, but for all Londoners.
‘Violent crime now has to be the top priority for the capital and it is time that more action was taken by the Mayor, alongside the Met, and by central government to stem the tide of lawlessness.
‘Recent initiatives like the Mayor’s planned Violence Reduction Unit may be part of the answer in the long run but Londoners are crying out for urgent solutions now – not 10 years in the future.’
- Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 50, appeared in custody at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with murder over the Ilford incident. He was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey later this month.
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