Sabina Nessa vigil: sister says ‘our world is shattered’ in emotional tribute to teacher

Hundreds of mourners gathered for a candlelit vigil in memory of the “amazing, caring, beautiful” primary school teacher Sabina Nessa on Friday night.

Family members wiped away tears as they spoke movingly of the sorrow the 28-year-old’s death had caused.

LondonWorld attended and uploaded the vigil to Facebook Live which you can view below.

At-a-glance: 5 key points

• More than 500 people gathered in an emotional vigil for Sabina Nessa in Pegler Square, Kidbrooke, south-east London.
• Those attending the vigil – where mourners were asked to “say her name” in a show of solidarity – and a separate rally earlier in the evening at East London Mosque heard powerful testimony from Ms Nessa’s family.
• Her sister Jebina Yasmin Islam said: “We have lost an amazing, caring, beautiful sister, who left this world far too early.”
• The Duchess of Cambridge shared a personal message on Twitter, describing how she was “saddened by the loss of another innocent young woman on our streets”.

What was said at the vigil?

Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Lawry told the more than 500 people gathered at the vigil: “Please help us catch the person responsible for this shocking incident.”

Jebina Yasmin Islam, Ms Nessa’s sister, broke down as she addressed crowds at the vigil.

She said: “I just want to say thank you to everyone who came today to show support for my sister.

“We have lost an amazing, caring, beautiful sister, who left this world far too early.”

She added: “Sabina loved her family. Words cannot describe how we are feeling, this feels like we are stuck in a bad dream and can’t get out of it – our world is shattered, we are simply lost for words.

“No family should go through what we are going through.”

Ms Nessa’s uncle Shahin Miah described his niece as “a kind and a open-minded person”, who was “always smiling and helping others”.

He said Ms Nessa’s death has “once again brought to the fore the question of women’s safety on the streets”.

In his statement, he said: “We don’t want what happened to Sabina to happen to anyone else. We don’t want any other mother’s chest to be empty or filled with deep sorrow, or to see the tears in the eyes of any father.”

On Twitter, the Duchess of Cambridge wrote: “I am saddened by the loss of another innocent young woman on our streets.

“My thoughts are with Sabina’s family and friends, and all those who have been affected by this tragic event. C”

The message was signed off personally with her initial. It is understood flowers have been laid on the duchess’s behalf.

In March, the duchess privately visited the memorial to murdered marketing executive Sarah Everard in Clapham Common, south-west London, after the 33-year-old was killed by off-duty police officer Wayne Couzens.

Background: a killing that shocked the nation

Ms Nessa had been walking to meet a friend at a pub near her home when she was fatally attacked in Cator Park.

Her body was discovered by a member of the public the next day, having been hidden under a pile of leaves, it was reported.

Two men were separately arrested on suspicion of her murder but were subsequently released under investigation.

Now the Metropolitan Police says they have arrested another man, 36, in East Sussex, which has been described as a significant development.