A woman aged 85 died today after being knocked to the ground by a mugger who snatched her handbag.
She was attacked in an alley in Greenford, west London, yesterday afternoon. The woman, who has not been named, was taken to hospital with what appeared to be minor injuries but her condition deteriorated and she died in the early hours.
Scotland Yard is expected to launch a murder inquiry. A Met spokesman said police were called at about 3.50pm. Officers and paramedics found the woman who was still conscious.
She was taken to a west London hospital but transferred to a hospital in central London where she died at 2.14am. The woman lived in Greenford and her next of kin have been told.
A post-mortem examination is due to be held in the next few days.
Scotland Yard said the Homicide and Serious Crime Command had been told of the death. There have been no arrests. The mugging comes amid a surge in the number of robberies and thefts from pedestrians in London.
