A woman in her 20s lost her life and a two-year-old girl sustained serious injuries in Ashford, Surrey.
The police were alerted to a concern for safety at an address on Woodthorpe Road at 1:15 pm on Thursday.
Upon arrival, officers found the woman and young child with very serious injuries. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The child was rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
A spokesman for Surrey Police stated, “Sadly, despite the best efforts of officers and paramedics, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The child has been taken to hospital for treatment.”
The police have arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. According to the authorities, the victims and the suspect were known to each other, and there is no perceived wider risk to the community.
The investigation, led by the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, is ongoing. A spokesman for the force said, “An investigation, led by the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, is underway, and inquiries remain ongoing.”
A resident of the apartment building, who wished to remain anonymous, described the premises as a “tinderbox” used for temporary housing.
The resident, who has lived in the building for eight months, claimed that there are daily police visits and alleged that the council often places individuals in the building without providing adequate support.
“The council dumps people here. There’s no support,” the resident said. “It’s like an episode of The Bill. The place is an absolute tinderbox.”
Senior Investigating Officer DCI Kimball Edey expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the victims, stating, “This investigation is in its early stages, and a team of specialist officers are working around the clock to gather as much information as possible.”
DCI Edey continued, “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims at this unbelievably difficult time.”
