A pregnant Indian-origin woman in the UK was killed after an arrow pierced through her abdomen in a crossbow attack by her former partner, but her baby survived following an emergency Caesarean section.
Devi Unmathallegadoo, 35, was injured in the abdomen during the attack on Monday in Ilford area of east London. She died in a local hospital, where doctors delivered her son.
On Tuesday, Scotland Yard officers charged Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 50, with the murder of the woman, believed to be her former partner.
"The victim was found suffering an abdominal injury. She was taken to hospital where she later died," the Metropolitan Police said.
"This is a tragic incident and our sympathies are with the loved ones and friends of the victim," added Detective Chief Inspector Gary Holmes of the Met Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command, which is leading the murder investigation.
Unmathallegadoo was known locally as Sana Muhammad after reportedly converting to Islam when she married her husband Imtiaz Muhammad around seven years ago.
She had three children, aged 18, 14 and 12, with her former partner and two young girls, aged five and two, with Muhammad. The baby boy who was born as a result of an emergency Caesarean operation on Monday has been named Ibrahim by his father.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said laws around crossbows would be reviewed after Unmathallegadoo's death, the BBC reported.
Ilford North MP Wes Streeting said in Parliament her death had left people in shock "up and down the country".
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Streeting said: "I know I will speak for every member of this House in expressing our deepest condolences to the family and our best wishes to the baby for a speedy recovery.
"Given these weapons, like the crossbow, used to kill my constituent are readily for sale online, can I urge the Prime Minister to urgently and seriously look at expanding the Offensive Weapons Bill so that we can toughen the scope of the laws governing the sale, the possession and the use of these deadly weapons."
May responded by saying crossbows were "subject to strict controls", but the government would "consider the risk to public safety and whether further measures are needed".
Imtiaz Muhammad told the 'Evening Standard' newspaper that Unmathallegadoo was a wonderful mother and wife.
"We were together seven years. I am heartbroken; we were inseparable," he said.
The 42-year-old was at home when he noticed the attacker in their shed with a loaded crossbow. He ran back into the home to alert his wife and children, but she was shot with the arrow in her abdomen soon after.
"The arrow went up into her heart but did not touch the unborn baby. The baby was due in four weeks. They operated with the arrow still in because it would have been too dangerous to take out," he said.
Neighbours heard Muhammad screaming for help outside the house and described seeing a 30-cm-long crossbow being carried out of the home by police officers as evidence.
Ramanodge remains in custody and will now appear before the Old Bailey court in London on Thursday.
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