Annabel Rook, 46, stabbed in ‘domestic incident’ as suspect arrested with slash wounds – children aged 7 and 9 ‘weren’t in house’ during blast
A women’s charity boss who dedicated her life to helping refugees escape domestic violence was stabbed to death in her own home before it was blown up in a suspected gas explosion.
Mother-of-two Annabel Rook, 46, was found with fatal knife wounds after 40 firefighters raced to tackle a blaze at her £1million terraced house in leafy Stoke Newington, North London, at 5am today.
The co-founder of refugee charity MamaSuze – which helps women fleeing gender-based violence – was pronounced dead at the scene as neighbours described hearing a “massive bang” that sounded like “somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane.”
A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital with slash wounds that are not life-threatening. Police confirmed they are treating it as a “domestic-related incident.
CHILDREN SAFE BUT TRAUMATISED
In a heart-wrenching detail, Ms Rook’s two children, aged seven and nine, were taken to hospital as a precaution but are not believed to have been inside the property when the explosion tore through their family home.
The youngsters – whose mother’s babysitter was the daughter of a shocked neighbour – now face a future without the woman who had dedicated her career to protecting vulnerable women and children.
‘LIKE A MASSIVE GLASS CABINET DROPPED’
Terrified residents described waking to the sound of devastation as the explosion ripped through the quiet residential street.
“I looked out and saw panes of glass on the floor. You could tell it wasn’t a car window,” one neighbour told reporters.
“Eventually I noticed the beam on the bay window was missing and could see some mild smoke coming out of the back. There was a guy rushing around, very distraught. He went round the back.”
The blast completely destroyed the home’s bay windows, scattering debris including plants, wooden shutters and shattered glass across the street.
HELPING THE VULNERABLE
Ms Rook was described as “amazing” and “so strong” by a woman who had fled a highly abusive relationship and found sanctuary through the MamaSuze charity.
The organisation, which Ms Rook co-founded, uses theatre and art workshops to help refugee and migrant women – many fleeing domestic violence – to “build a more positive future.
According to her LinkedIn profile, the dedicated charity worker had spent over 15 years working in arts for social change, including time at the Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana working with Liberian refugees.
She had also worked in safe houses for women in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, and created award-winning projects for female survivors of trafficking and unaccompanied minors.
‘OUR DAUGHTER WAS THEIR BABYSITTER’
One devastated neighbour, whose daughter babysat for the Rook children, told The Sun: “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.”
MASSIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters from Stoke Newington, Holloway, Islington and Homerton stations battled the blaze, which started around 5am.
The London Ambulance Service sent multiple resources including ambulance crews, paramedics, an advanced practitioner, hazardous area response teams and London’s Air Ambulance.
Sadly, despite our best efforts, a woman was pronounced dead at the scene,” a spokesperson confirmed.
‘DOMESTIC-RELATED INCIDENT’
Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in the area, said: “This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are with the victim’s family at this very difficult time.
Our officers arrested a man on suspicion of murder at the scene and will be conducting interviews as soon as possible, to establish the full circumstances that led to Annabel’s death.
“While enquiries continue, at this early stage we do believe this to be a domestic-related incident.”
COMMUNITY IN SHOCK
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Hackney community, where Ms Rook was well-known for her charity work.
Since partnering with Hackney Migrant Centre, her MamaSuze charity had supported hundreds of vulnerable women, with “many participants returning every month.
Matteo Prodava, 35, a production designer living nearby, said: “You hear these things that happen in the world, but when it happens on the next street, it has a different impact.”
Another resident broke down, saying: “That is so sad. I just want to cry. I have never heard of something like this happening here.”
ROAD CLOSURES REMAIN
Police cordons remain in place with road closures on Stoke Newington Church Street from the junction of the A10 to Defoe Road. Kersley Road is completely shut as forensic teams comb the scene.
Officers are urging anyone with information to come forward as specialist family liaison officers support Ms Rook’s devastated family.
The cruel irony that a woman who spent her life protecting others from domestic violence should allegedly die in such circumstances has not been lost on those who knew her work.
As one charity worker noted: “She gave everything to help women escape violence. This is just heartbreaking beyond words.”
