Ilford murder: Pregnant mother-of-five shot dead with crossbow in London

Fifty-year-old man believed to be ex-parter charged with murder of Sana Muhammad

A pregnant mother-of-five was killed with a crossbow in front of her husband and children in an attack which left her unborn baby in critical condition in hospital.

Sana Muhammad, also known as Devi Unmathallegadoo, was shot in the abdomen during the confrontation at her home in Ilford, east London, on Monday morning.

Doctors performed emergency surgery to save her unborn infant boy, who is now in a stable condition, but 35-year-old Ms Muhammad died from her injuries just over three hours later.

Suspect Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, who is believed to be the victim’s ex-partner, was arrested at the scene.

The 50-year-old suspect, of no fixed address, was charged with murder on Tuesday morning and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.

Her husband, Imtiaz Muhammad, 42, told the Evening Standard that he found her killer hiding in their garden shed when he went to put away a cardboard box.

“He was there with the crossbow loaded. He stared at me, he was going to shoot so I ran into the house,” said Mr Muhammad.

“My wife was doing the washing up, I was shouting ‘run, run, run’. He shot her. I can’t help thinking she took my arrow.

“The kids were all there, it was horrific. The arrow went up into her heart but did not touch the unborn baby.

“They operated with the arrow still in because it would have been too dangerous to take out.”

Ms Muhammad, who had three children from a previous relationship, married Mr Muhammad six years ago and was eight months pregnant with her sixth child at the time of her death.

Her husband added: “She was a wonderful mother and wife. I am heartbroken.”

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the address in Applegarth Road at 7.40am on Monday.

“Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a 35-year-old woman suffering an abdominal wound/injury,” the force said in a statement.

“The injured woman was taken to an east London hospital where she was sadly pronounced dead at 11am.”

A Met Police spokesperson confirmed the baby was delivered at hospital and remains there in a stable condition.

Police referred to the victim using her former name of Devi Unmathallegadoo.

No one else is being sought in connection with the investigation but detectives continue to appeal for witnesses and information.

“This is a tragic incident and our sympathies are with the loved ones and friends of the victim,” said DCI Gary Holmes, of the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command.

“I am appealing for any witnesses who were in the area of Applegarth Drive from the evening of Sunday 11 November to the morning of Monday 12 November to please contact us with any information they might have, however small. It could prove vital to our ongoing enquiry.”