From SKY News (UK)
A woman has died after being attacked in Colchester – and police say her full Muslim dress and veil may have been a factor.
The woman, who has not yet been identified, was walking on the town’s Salary Brook Trail at 10.40am on Tuesday when she was violently beaten and attacked with a knife or other bladed weapon.
Paramedics tried to save her but she died at the scene from injuries to her head and body.
Essex Police have said the woman, who was in her 30s, was wearing a dark navy blue full length robe (known as an Abaya) and a patterned multi-coloured Hijab headscarf.
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.”
A 52-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.
