Special constable fatally stabbed
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A special constable has been stabbed to death outside her home - days after she challenged three burglars there.
Nisha Patel-Nasri, 29, was off duty and in her night clothes when she was attacked in Sudbury Avenue, Wembley, in north-west London, late on Thursday.
Neighbours, who alerted police after they heard her scream, gave her first aid but she was later pronounced dead in hospital, Scotland Yard said.
A man wearing a hooded top was seen running away towards Harrow Road.
Police said they were looking at the attempted burglary, in which three men tried to get into the house through the front door, as one line of inquiry.
The men left after Mrs Patel-Nasri challenged them as they tried to get into the front porch on Saturday night.
The hairdresser was alone at the house she shared with her husband, Fadi Nasri, before Thursday's attack took place.
Mr Nasri, who ran a limousine hire company from home, had gone out for the evening.
Neighbours reported hearing a disturbance in the street and they administered first aid to Mrs Patel-Nasri.
Appealing for witnesses at the murder scene Det Supt Julian Worker said: "I know that a lot of you have seen the blood in the street already and clearly she suffered a fatal wound to her leg.
"What we believe has happened is that she has come out of her house in her night dress and has dealt with something in the street.
"Neighbours have heard her screaming and have come to her aid.
"I don't know what caused her to leave her house in a night dress shortly before midnight."
Det Supt Worker said two cars of high value were parked outside at the time.
"Those vehicles may have been the cause of attention to somebody," he said.
BBC reporter Daniela Ralph said police were not making any connection between Mrs Patel-Nasri's role as a special constable and her death.
Scotland Yard described her as a popular member of the Metropolitan Police's Special Constabulary in the London Borough of Brent.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair described the death of Mrs Patel-Nasri as a "huge loss" to the force.
"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 as a real team player."
A section of Sudbury Avenue has been cordoned off while forensics teams carry out a search of the area.
Specials have the same powers as regular police. They assist officers, carrying out their duties in their spare time.
BBC News
Condolences to friends and family.
