Luton stabbing: Murder investigation launched after mother's 'throat is cut' in botched burglary

Police have launched a murder investigation after a mother-of-four was found stabbed to death on her doorstep in Luton. The woman, believed to be aged 34, was attacked on Monday night (23 May).

Police and paramedics were called at about 11.30pm to the semi-detached property in Overstone Road to reports of a woman found "unconscious and not breathing". She died at the scene.

One neighbour, Nousheen Dar, said she awoke on Monday night to the sound of screams as family members reportedly returned home to find the lifeless body of the mother. She claimed the woman had been stabbed in the neck and described seeing her surrounded by a pool of blood.

Dar told the Mirror: "I remember I heard all this noise, I think it was her mum and sister screaming and crying in the street. I looked out the window for a few minutes and they were waiting for an ambulance so I woke my husband to see what was going on and if we could help.

"There were a number of neighbours in the street and as soon as we got outside the ambulance turned up. I didn't really know what was going on at the time and the paramedics asked us to move away.

"But I did see that she was on the floor in the doorway and there was a lot of blood around her. It was horrible and I don't know why it has happened. It seems so random. At the time everyone was just in shock.

"Her sister was going mad asking for the paramedics to help her, but they said they couldn't do anything and they had to leave her how she was as it was a crime scene. Her neck was cut so it was a big shock."

Reports from residents on social media claimed the tragedy had unfolded after a bungled burglary. Police said they were keeping an "open mind" about what happened.

Zaheer Asghar wrote on Facebook: "Absolutely shocking news, last night a sisters house was burgled at approximately 12am. The burglars attempted to steal gold from the house.

"The sister confronted them but was hit over the head with a glass mirror from her hallway."

The victim is believed to have lived with her husband, siblings and parents. The road remains cordoned off with detectives from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit issuing an appeal for information.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Gallop, senior investigating officer, said: "We are treating the woman's death as murder and it's therefore of the utmost importance that anyone with information that could help our investigation gets in touch immediately.

"We are following a number of lines of inquiry and are keeping an open mind as to what led to this tragic incident.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting Op Humboldt. You can also contact Crimestoppers, completely anonymously, via 0800 555 111, or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.