Murder rate in London strikes 100! Homicides in the capital rise to triple figures after woman, 73, found dead
The homicide rate in the United Kingdom's capital has risen to 100 in just eight months this year, following a series of stabbings, shootings and violent death cases, according to reports.
Reports state that the London police launched another probe amidst the rising number of murders in the city after a 73-year-old woman, identified as Carole Harrison, was found dead near her house in Teddington, south-west of the capital, according to the Daily Mail.
Reports state that post-mortem procedure could not establish the woman's cause of death and that a fire was reported at her house in the early hours of Wednesday. Authorities say that Harrison, however, suffered injuries which were "consistent with an assault" before the fire burnt the house.
London is set to see a higher number of homicides than the 116 cases recorded in 2017 as the death toll has already reached 100 before this year even before the month of September, reports state.
Harrison's death case investigation is reportedly the sixth murder inquiry which has been launched in London in a week and the tenth in the entire month with still a few more days to go.
Harrison's home was taped off on Friday morning as forensics team arrived at the scene of the incident to look for evidence, reports state.
Harrison's neighbors said that they had heard an "explosion" right before they saw a firefighter carry the old woman's body out of the house and one of her sons arrived at the scene.
One of Harrison's neighbors, 75-year-old Flo Osmond, talked about Harrison and said that she usually invited people she did not know into her house.
"She got this habit of inviting people in that she didn't know, she really did not know what she was doing. There was somebody cycling around outside on the day at lunchtime. She had three sons, two daughters. She was a grandmother. We all really cared for her," Osmond said.
While Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard said that police was alerted of the incident at 1 am on Wednesday on August 22.
"Police were called just after 1 am on Wednesday, August 22nd to a fire at an address on Mays Road in Teddington. Officers attended along with paramedics and London Fire Brigade. A 73-year-old woman was found dead inside the address. Her next of kin have been informed," the officer said.
"Although formal identification awaits, police are confident the victim is Carole Harrison who lived at the address. A post-mortem examination was held at Kingston Mortuary on Thursday in which a cause of death has not yet been established and awaits further tests. However, she was found to have injuries consistent with an assault," the inspector added.
The officials have reportedly issued a public appeal, asking people who saw Harrison on the day leading up to the fire to come up and report to them.
"In particular we want to hear from anyone who may have seen her out and about and most particularly if she had anyone with her. Anyone with information should call police immediately," the Chief Inspector said.