Baby delivered by paramedics after pregnant mother dies in crossbow attack

Wednesday 14th November 2018 06:15 EST
 

A father screamed at his family to run as a crossbow attacker chased him into their home and fired an arrow, killing his pregnant wife and leaving their unborn baby fighting for his life. 

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, Imtiaz Muhammad, went to the shed at 7.30am to put a box away and discovered the armed attacker hiding inside.

The 35-year-old mother-of-five was hit in the chest and rushed to hospital where medics delivered her baby son with the arrow still lodged in her abdomen.

The tiny baby, who relatives have named Ibrahim, is now critically ill in hospital. 

The victim's husband 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.'  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 wLoras 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 taken away by police. He has since been charged with murder. 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. 

Mrs Muhammad, who was born in Mauritius, had been a Hindu but converted to Islam in order to wed builder Imtiaz, who is originally from Pakistan.

The couple met and fell in love after her marriage to Mr Unmattallegadoo, who is also from Mauritius, fell apart.

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.'


comments powered by Disqus



to the free, weekly Asian Voice email newsletter