Saudi Arabian woman stabbed to death in park 'because she was wearing traditional Muslim dress' was science PhD student who had been in the UK for just six months
- Nahid Almanea, 31, was found dying in Colchester, Essex, on Tuesday
- The student was wearing Muslim dress - an Abaya robe and a hijab scarf
- Police believe that the religious clothing may have made her a target
- It emerged today that Ms Almanea was studying English ahead of her PhD
- Teachers paid tribute today to 'considerate' and 'hard-working' student
- Was 'seeking brighter future' studying life sciences at University of Essex
- Police questioning 52-year-old man from Colchester in connection with death
By
KIERAN CORCORAN and
MIA DE GRAAF
PUBLISHED: 14:46 GMT, 18 June 2014 | UPDATED: 12:27 GMT, 19 June 2014
A Saudi Arabian woman who could have been was stabbed to death for wearing Muslim clothing was a science PhD student who moved to the UK just six months ago, it emerged today.
Nahid Almanea, 31, was found bleeding to death at 10.40am on Tuesday on a footpath in Colchester, Essex.
The 'quiet, considerate' student was wearing a dark blue robe called an Abaya, as well as a multi-coloured hijab scarf, leading police to believe she may have been targeted for religious reasons.
Investigation: Forensics scale the path where a Saudi Arabian student in her 30s was battered to death yesterday as police probe suspicions that she was targeted for being a Muslim. She was wearing an abaya and a hijab
Murder hunt: Police have revealed the woman found battered to death in Colchester yesterday morning was wearing a full-length robe and a hijab as they investigate whether the attack was racially motivated
Ms Almanea was taking a language course at Essex University ahead of starting a life sciences PhD. She is thought to have been living in Colchester with her brother.
Paramedics tried to save her but she died at the scene from head and body injuries. Police confirmed Ms Almanea's identity this morning.
A 52-year-old man from Colchester has been arrested in connection with the incident. Officers are thought to have requested extra time to question him.
Teachers from the English language course Ms Almanea studied - from which she was due to graduate in August - today paid tribute to her.
Richard Barnard, head of the University of Essex's International Academy, said: ‘Nahid was a student on the Essex English Language Programme, which develops students' English language skills.
‘Nahid joined this programme and was a very hard-working and conscientious student, who was making excellent progress.
‘She was a quiet, considerate and well-respected member of the programme and had ambitions to move on to further academic study. She will be greatly missed by her teachers and her fellow students.’
Muslim student leaders yesterday expressed their dismay at the attack.
Omar Ali, president of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, said: 'A Saudi international student at the University of Essex, Nahid Almanea, had only recently come to the UK in pursuit of an education for a brighter future.
'Essex Police have confirmed that her hijab (Muslim dress) may have played a factor in this horrific crime.
Location: The above map shows where in Colchester the body was found. The area was cordoned off yesterday
Cordon: Paramedics attended the scene just after 10.40am but they were unable to save the victim
'This is the saddest piece news I have had the displeasure of receiving in all my years of student activism. Our sincere prayers are with our sister who has been murdered and we extend our sincerest condolences to her family.'
Detective Superintendent Tracy Hawkings said officers were keeping an open mind about the motive of the attack.
But she added: 'We are conscious that the dress of the victim will have identified her as likely being a Muslim and this is one of the main lines of the investigation but again there is no firm evidence at this time that she was targeted because of her religion.'
Detectives are now appealing for witnesses who used the trail between 8.30am and 11am that day.
Ms Hawkings said: 'This crime was committed on a busy thoroughfare where you would expect a number of people to be walking.
'It was a brazen, reckless attack and there is a high likelihood people were there or there about at the time.'
Death: The woman was found the Salary Brook Trail public path on the outskirts of Colchester, Essex
Probe: Police are appealing for anyone with information. It is the second brutal murder in the town since March
Officers also asked residents to check their gardens and rubbish bins for any discarded weapons or blood stained clothing.
The victim is believed to have left her home in the Greenstead area of Colchester at around 10am.
Ms Hawkings said: 'We have not yet been able to formally identify the victim but we believe we know who she is and specially trained family liaison officers are speaking with her family now.
Similar: Police conceded that the incident bears similarities to the murder of James Attfield, pictured with his mother Julie Finch, who was stabbed in March
'A forensic post-mortem is due to be carried out this afternoon to establish the cause of death but at this time it would appear that a knife or other bladed weapon was used in this attack.
'The victim also suffered facial injuries but the cause of these has yet to be established.
'We have no further detail on the murder weapon or weapons at this time but if anyone comes across any suspicious items which they think could be connected to this murder we would ask them to call us.'
After the incident, police launched a search of the area using sniffer dogs and a helicopter with thermal imaging equipment.
A cordon was set up around the area as forensics officers began work.
The University of Essex, where Ms Almanea studied, warned its students to stay vigilant walking through the town.
In an email to students yesterday, the university said: 'There is a police presence on campus, and police are speaking to users of the Salary Brook trail.
'When travelling to and from campus don’t walk alone if possible, don’t take short cuts and keep to well-lit areas. Stay vigilant and be aware of your surroundings.'
One local resident said: 'It’s a terrible thing to happen but it can be quite rough around here.
'I just hope they get to the bottom of what happened.'
The woman was found on the Salary Brook Trail on the outskirts of Colchester. The footpath was cordoned off by police yesterday.
Neighbour Jane Davies, 66, who lives not far from the path in the Greenstead area of Colchester, said Ms Almanea moved in about three weeks ago.
She said: 'There is a real sense of shock here. It would be horrible to think it was something to do with race.
'I saw her every morning and she was always in a silver car. I can't think for the life of me why she didn't drive on Tuesday.
Essex University student Ataa Koonison, 22, said: 'I'm sure she only moved in three or so weeks ago, so I haven't really got to know her... When I came back to the police here, I was really scared.
'I'm sure a lot of people take that same route to the university.'
Saudi Arabian diplomats yesterday offered condolences to the family, and said they are working to bring home her body.
A statement from the Saudi embassy in the UK said: 'Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the UK, expressed in a telephone call to the brother of the deceased his sincerest condolences to her family.
‘He affirmed the embassy's speed in taking all the procedures for the transfer of the body of the deceased to the Kingdom.'
Officers are also looking at possible links with the murder of James Attfield, a vulnerable man with brain damage who died after being stabbed more than 100 times at a park in the town in March.
'There are some immediate similarities between this murder and that of James Attfield but there are also a large number of differences as well,' she said.
'There is no current known motive for this attack and we are keeping an open mind and exploring all possible avenues of investigation.'
Officers will be carrying out additional patrols in the area.
Anyone with any information should contact the major investigation team on 01245 282103, Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Appeal for calm: Street lights near the murder scene will be left on overnight to reassure residents
Read more:
Saudi student Nahid Almanea killed in Colchester footpath attack 'targeted because of Muslim robes' was science PhD student | Mail Online
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Who kills a 31 year old defenseless and peaceful woman in public with a knife? Deranged scum.
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levina (since you are around here)
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