Neighbours and colleagues have paid tribute to a “truly kind and gentle soul” found stabbed to death in north London after a gas explosion.
Mother-of-two Annabel Rook had dedicated much of her life to supporting women who were survivors of gender based violence and had worked tirelessly to support female migrants and child refugees for two decades.
The 46-year-old charity hero had co-founded the creative community group MamaSuze, which provides weekly arts-based workshops, and her colleagues and friends have been left in a “state of profound shock” following her death.
A murder investigation was launched on Tuesday after the mother was found with stab wounds by emergency services who had been called to the explosion in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington.
Paying tribute to Ms Rook, her colleagues at MamaSuze described her as “a profound force for good in the world, dedicating her working life to supporting women survivors”.
In a post on MamaSuze’s website, they wrote: “She started MamaSuze to bring art, creativity and joy to women who had arrived in the UK fleeing violence and human trafficking, treating everyone with warmth and kindness.
“The entire MamaSuze community is in a state of profound shock and we ask for privacy and time to grieve and process the enormity of our loss”.
Ms Rook had been working with marginalised and displaced people for over 20 years, according to her LinkedIn profile.
She previously worked as a project director of Pan Intercultural Arts, also helped to set up female choral group Amies Freedom Choir whose members survived modern slavery.
Coffee Afrik, an east London community organisation, explained it had hosted Ms Rook at one of its women’s hubs in Hackney.
“Annabel was a truly kind and gentle soul,” the group wrote on social media.
“So many organisations across Hackney Council will feel this loss today, MamaSuze is an incredible organisation. An incredible legacy.”
Police were first called at 4.57am to reports of the explosion with a person trapped inside the two-storey terraced house.
Part of the basement and ground floor were destroyed in the blast and subsequent blaze.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, Ms Rook was declared dead at the scene. Detectives believe her death is “a domestic-related incident”.
A friend of the family told the Standard they found out their neighbour had been killed on the school run.
Through tears, the man who lives nearby to the family said: “We know them well. Our kids are in the same class. The school is on the corner. We are all here because of the school.
“They have two little boys. The kids were out at a sleepover. We know the family from birthday parties, everything.
“Our kids have been in the same class for a couple of years. They were just a lovely family. It’s just unexpected.”
Describing the explosion, he added: “It was confusing. We thought it was in our house. I couldn’t place it.
“I found out what happened on the school run.”
Teacher Alun Gordon said: “We just woke up to a massive bang … my whole house shook, it felt like a truck had hit the house.
“I then heard screams, someone shouting ‘oh my God’ several times, so I came outside and basically all the neighbours appeared in their pyjamas.
“We quickly established that the children got out, that there’d been marital strife.
“My daughter babysat for her and we would chat to her as a neighbour. It’s a massive tragedy for the street.”
Henry, who lived several doors down from the exploded home, told the Standard: “I know [the family]. I see them walking to school.
“I say hello to them. They are quite pleasant. They are lovely people. It’s so sad. I thought it was just a gas explosion.”
Matteo Prodava, a 35-year-old production designer who lives across from the house, said: “You hear these things that happen in the world, but when it happens on the next street, it has a different impact.”
A 44-year-old man was arrested at the address on suspicion of murder, the Metropolitan Police said. Officers are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
He was taken to hospital with slash wounds where he currently remains. His condition is not life-changing or life-threatening.
Two children aged seven and nine have also been taken to hospital as a precaution but are not believed to have been inside the property at the time of the explosion.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to the blast, the London Fire Brigade said.
Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in the local 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.
“We understand what happened will cause concern within the Hackney community and residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area, along with a crime scene, as we carry out the investigation.
“We are working closely alongside our partners at Hackney Council to help support those residents locally who have been impacted by this.”
Twins Sarah Ayob and Sumaiyah Ayab said their beds shook five doors down from the explosion.
Sumaiyah said: “I thought a car had smashed into the side of the house. A neighbour came out and was screaming.”
Sarah added: “Even our neighbour on the other side heard it as well. It was really loud. I have never heard anything like it. There was glass everywhere.”
One resident spoke of her shock and said a man and a woman lived in the house with young kids.
“Everyone around here has kids at the primary school. People will be very shocked to see this,” they said.
“We came out when we heard the explosion. The fire engines were here very quickly. We couldn’t really do anything to help.”
A neighbour who lives just metres from the property told the Standard his house shook as the explosion happened.
He described how he heard what sounded like a “really loud clap of thunder”.
The resident left his home after a few minutes to see what had happened. He said: “There wasn’t a fire or anything. Everyone was just in shock.”
The front of what looks like the living room of a Victorian terraced property appears to have been cracked by the explosion.
The wood had become visible and the window has been completely destroyed.
Glass and debris remained spread across the road around 10 metres from the exploded home
The incident was brought under control by 5.42am by the Brigade but a cordon remains in place.
A large police cordon was in place with several fire engines still at the scene at 8am.
Halil Youdjel, who lives near the house in Stoke Newington where a woman died after being found with stab wounds, described the scene following the suspected gas explosion.
The 29-year-old said: “It was 5.50am I was asleep and suddenly bang.
“At the beginning I thought someone hit the wall with the car. I looked out the window and saw smoke coming out of the house and saw glass shattered.
“By the time I got out police and ambulance were called and they arrived in two minutes. The whole flat was shaking and there was loads of smoke.
“I heard screams but it was from other neighbours who were panicking.
“It was like no one was there. It was very quiet. The family who live there have two kids and I see them around sometimes.
“I have lived here for three years and nothing like this has ever happened. It’s always very peaceful and there are never any complaints.
“It’s very shocking.”
Another resident in Kersley Road, near Dumont Road – who did not want to be named, said she was in shock.
She said: “That is so sad. I just want to cry. I have never heard of something like this happening here. I am just in shock.
“I feel sorry for the kids; what sort of news is this? We just thought we couldn’t move the cars and there’s been a gas explosion.
“Now, I don’t know what to say.”
A local on Dumont Road said he heard a crash “like somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane”.
The man, who did not want to be named, added: “I looked out and saw panes of glass on the floor. You could tell it wasn’t a car window.
“Eventually I noticed the beam on the bay window was missing and could see some mild smoke coming out of the back.
“People started arriving and saying to phone the police.
“There was a guy rushing around, very distraught. He went round the back.”
A 76-year-old neighbour said: “I was asleep upstairs and heard a sudden bang then I saw from the curtain all the glass all on the floor.
“I was worried. Everybody on the street came out in their pyjamas.”
Another neighbour said: “I’m pretty sure it was two bangs I heard. There was lots of glass shattering.
“I knew it wasn’t a car crashing because it sounded like lots of glasses had been smashed on the floor.”
Station Commander Darren McTernan, who was at the scene, said earlier: “Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area for most of this morning while investigations into the cause of this incident are carried out.”
The LFB was first called at 4.52am and crews from Stoke Newington, Holloway, Islington and Homerton fire stations to the scene.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation by the Brigade and the Met Police.
Forensics officers could be seen at the back of the property as the murder investigation was launched.
London Ambulance Service said: “We were called today at 4.46am to reports of an incident in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, N16.
“We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a response car, an advanced paramedic practitioner, members of our hazardous area response team (HART) and London’s air ambulance.
“Sadly, despite our best efforts, a woman was pronounced dead at the scene. A man was taken to a London major trauma centre. Two children were taken to hospital for a precautionary assessment.”
Anyone with information about the incident can call police on 101, quoting CAD 926/17June, independent charity Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.
