A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of 89-year-old Dorothy Woolmer in her home in Tottenham, north London, the Metropolitan Police said.
Detectives said the man was arrested in the Tottenham area shortly before 6pm on Monday, and has been taken into custody at a north London police station.
Police were called to an address in Waltheof Gardens at 10.45am on Sunday, and Woolmer was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers previously stated they believed one or more suspects gained entry to the woman’s house at some point between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
Appealing for information over the weekend, DCI Garry Moncrieff of Specialist Crime said: “The woman had clearly been assaulted and, as such, a murder investigation has been launched.
“I want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in and around Waltheof Gardens and the surrounding area on Saturday night or Sunday morning.”
A neighbour, Sayed Hussain, described Woolmer’s death as a “terrible” incident.
The 40-year-old told Press Association: “It’s terrible, it should never have happened.
“I haven’t got a single word to explain my sorrow.”
On Monday, forensic officers in blue boiler suits could be seen searching an area inside the cordon at Woolmer’s address.