NEIGHBOURS are in shock this evening after learning of the death of a 69-year-old woman in suspicious circumstances in London’s East End late last night. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being questioned by detectives this-evening

By Gemma Collins

NEIGHBOURS are in shock this evening after learning of the death of a 69-year-old woman in suspicious circumstances in London's East End late last night.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder and is being questioned by detectives this-evening.

Police and ambulance paramedics were called at 10pm to reports of a woman attacked at a seventh floor flat at Whitechapel's Lister House tower block in Lomas Street, off Vallance Road.

They found the woman, later identified as Howarum Begum, dead in the flat.

"Next of kin are aware," said a Scotland Yard spokesman. "We are waiting for formal identification, but are satisfied she is Howarum Begum who lives at that address."

A post-mortem at Poplar Mortuary today (Thursday) gave cause of death as severe blunt trauma to the head and chest.

Next door neighbour Ahmed Saleh, 34, told the East London Advertiser this evening: "It is unbelievable this has happened. It's very sad. I didn't hear anything and only found out when the police arrived last night."

He added: "She was always chatting, a very nice person."

Mrs Begum, a grandmother, lived in the flat with her son, believed to be separated from his wife.

A man in his 40s was arrested at the flat on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody at an East London police station. An incident room has opened at Barking under Det Chief Ins John Macdonald.