The best friend of a woman killed in a suspected alien attack revealed the latest texts they sent to each other in a moving tribute.
Law graduate Zara Aleena, 36, was found in the early hours of Sunday morning with serious head injuries in Ilford, East London, and later died at the hospital.
Police described it as an “opportunistic alien attack” and said a 29-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Zara’s friend of 17 years, Lisa, said they were meant to meet over the weekend but had to rearrange.
In a tribute on Facebook, Lisa shared a screenshot of their latest text messages showing a photo of a sunset.
Zara replied that it was ‘beautiful’ and added: ‘Miss your beautiful face this weekend xx can not wait to see you next weekend xxx.’
Lisa said she spent most weekends with Zara and described feeling “completely broken”.
“I’m shocked, I’m angry, I feel sick to my stomach,” she said.
‘We were meant to be together this weekend, but I had to cancel and arranged to meet next weekend.
‘I wish I had met her this weekend. She was fucking killed walking home!
“I will never see her again. I will never hear her voice again. We always talked every day. I’ll never get over this. ‘
Zara’s death comes less than a year after primary school teacher Sabina Nessa was killed by stranger Koci Selama as she walked home through a London park.
A court has heard Selamaj driving from his Eastbourne home to London to carry out a premeditated assault on a woman after being rejected by his estranged wife.
Referring to Zara’s killer, Lisa wrote: ‘I want to look him in the eye and ask: why? May he be tortured in prison!
‘When will our streets be safe? Something has to be done! ‘
Zara’s friends said she had just passed her law degree and was working as an administrative officer at the Royal Courts of Justice.
One of them, Sophie, told the BBC: ‘She was always the nicest person you could ever meet, always positive.
“She lit up the whole room. She could talk to anyone for hours. ‘
Others close to her said she was a ‘lifeline for her mother and grandmother’ as she did all their shopping and arranged their medication.
Another friend, Nadia, told The Times she is a ‘very gentle soul’ and ‘very helpful to everyone and her neighbors’.
Police said Zara sustained multiple injuries and it appears no weapon was used in the attack.
Her death comes amid heightened concerns over the safety of women in Britain’s streets following a series of violent and high-profile murders.
Sabina Nessa’s murder happened the same year that Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and killed by a serving police officer.
And in July 2020, sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry were killed in a mad attack by stranger Danyal Hussein as part of a ‘demonic agreement’ to win the lottery.
A third of London’s 45 murder victims in 2022 were women, according to data collected by Met police.
In most cases, the suspect is someone known to the victim.
Zara’s death scared some local women to leave their homes.
A significant police presence is expected to remain in the area where she was killed in the coming days.
Ch Supt Bell said he understood the incident was ‘incredibly disturbing’.
He said: ‘Women should not change their behavior and should be able to go about their business and feel safe at any time of the day or night and it is our job to ensure that this happens.
‘Officers can not be in all places at all times. We call on the community, especially women, to report any suspicious or unwanted behavior or to seek help if you feel threatened. ‘
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