A volunteer policewoman was stabbed to death after going to investigate a disturbance outside her home in North London last night.
Nisha Patel-Nasri, 29, a hairdresser from Wembley who volunteered as a special constable, was knifed in the leg after stepping outside in her nightdress.
A neighbour in Sudbury Avenue who heard Nisha's "blood-curdling" scream rushed out to give first aid, but she was pronounced dead soon after arriving at Northwick Park Hospital. She was killed by a single stab wound.
As a major murder investigation began in the quiet, residential suburb, colleagues in the police force paid tribute to a woman who, for four years, had given her free time to serve her community.
At a press conference outside the home Nisha shared with her husband Fadi Nasri, Detective Superintendent Julian Worker said that he was following a number of immediate lines of inquiry.
He revealed that three young black men had attempted to force the front door of the couple's home at 10pm on Saturday. Nisha challenged them and they fled.
Her husband of three years, who was out for the evening, ran a limousine hire business and two luxury cars were left parked outside the house.
Neighbours who heard Nisha's stricken screams for help saw a man wearing a hooded top running away down the darkened street.
Detective Superintendent Worker of the Specialist Crime Directorate said that he was investigating all three leads and had not ruled out the possibility that Nisha may have been targeted because of her volunteer work as a community policewoman.
He said: "I don't know what caused Nisha to leave her home in her nightdress shortly before midnight. We she came outside to deal with something in the street. Neighbours who heard her screaming came to her aid."
He said that Nisha was well known in the area through both her work on the beat and her successful business as a self-employed hairdresser.
He added: "It is absolutely tragic that somebody who gives up their time and serves their community meets their death in such tragic and violent circumstances."
He urged anyone with information to contact a police hotline, adding: "This sort of crime is so atrocious, so horrendous, no loyalty of a family member or friend is worth not coming forward."
Police cordoned off 100 metres of Sudbury Avenue and an adjacent road as they began the hunt for the murder weapon. Blood stains, including hand and footprints, were clearly visible on the pavement.
Rosemary Carroll, a neighbour, said that she first heard screaming at around 11.45pm. "I was in the bath and I heard a scream. At first I just thought it was a fox, because we have a lot of foxes round here. Then I heard another one and I just knew that there was something happening and I ran down the stairs. I shouted for my son to come with me and we ran outside.
"Someone said to me there’s a lady on the floor and I just saw her lying there. There was so much blood. Someone was looking after her, I think the ambulance was there as well.
"I didn’t want to look but as they took her away I just saw her arm fall down."
Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, led tributes to a hugely popular member of his force. He said: "Our hearts go out to Nisha’s husband and family and friends.
"It is a tragedy that a young woman who willingly gave up so much of her valuable free time to work as a police officer in her local community should lose her life in this terrible way.
"Nisha was, I’m told, tremendously popular with her colleagues, who regarded her a real team player, and her death is a huge loss to the Metropolitan Police Service."
Chief Superintendent Andy Bamber, Borough Commander for Brent, added: "We are shocked and saddened by the murder Nisha. I think I can speak for all my colleagues and the local community when I say her loss will have a great impact on the borough.
"She was a lively and dedicated officer who was committed to serving the community in Brent. Our thoughts at this very sad time are with Nisha’s family and friends."
Special constables are voluntary police officers and have the powers of fully-sworn officers. They assist with police duties in their free time and wear a similar uniform to regular constables.
John Barradell, Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary Chief Officer, said: "This is a shocking and tragic loss of a young and committed volunteer police officer who was highly respected by her colleagues.
"All of us who serve London as specials send our deepest condolences and thoughts to her family and friends at this time."
A spokesman for Metropolitan Police said: "Police are appealing for any witnesses from the immediate vicinity who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously prior to the event or seen a suspect running away in the general direction of the Harrow Road.
"We would also appeal for anyone who may have any other information, in particular, anyone who may know who is responsible or know of anyone who has returned with bloodstained clothing or acting out of character."
Nisha's killing comes against a backdrop of increasing knife attacks in London. John Monckton, a financier from Chelsea, and Robert Symons, a teacher from Chiswick, were both stabbed to death during burglaries at their own homes.
Last November, Pc Sharon Beshenivsky, 38, was shot dead and her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn, was injured as they went to investigate reports of an armed robbery at a Bradford travel agents.
An incident room has opened at Barnes. Anyone with information is asked to call on 0208 247 7821 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Female officers who have died in line of duty
WPC Sharon Beshenivsky, 38: shot by armed robbers in Bradford in November on her daughter’s fourth birthday after responding to what seemed to be a routine call. Five men have been charged with her murder.
WPC Alison Armitage, 29: died from multiple injuries after being run over twice by a stolen car in March 2001 in Oldham, Greater Manchester, while working undercover on a drugs operation. Thomas Whaley, 19, was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter.
WPC Nina Mackay, 25: stabbed in October 1997 while attempting to arrest schizophrenic Magdi Elgizouli in Stratford, East London. She had removed her body armour in order to use a ram to enter Elgizouli’s flat. He was convicted of manslaughter and jailed indefinitely.
WPC Yvonne Fletcher, 25: shot in the back in April 1984 while on crowd-control duty outside the Libyan Embassy in London after gunmen inside the building opened fire. Her murder remains unsolved.
WPC Jane Arbuthnot, 23: one of five killed in the Harrods store bombing in London in December 1983. She was examining the device, planted by the IRA, when it exploded.
WPC Angela Bradley, 23: drowned along with two other officers while trying to rescue a holidaymaker from the sea at Blackpool in January 1983.
WPC Mandy Rayner, 18: the first woman officer to die on duty, killed when a suicidal drink-driver smashed into her car in Royston, Hertfordshire, in 1982. It was only her third night on police duty.
