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A four-year-old girl was stabbed to death at her home on the Chatsworth Estate in Clapton on Thursday afternoon.

A 36-year-old woman – believed to be the girl’s mother – was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. She has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and is being held in a “secure unit”.

It is understood that paramedics contacted the police after they arrived at the flat shortly before 3.30pm on Thursday. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene.

Next of kin have been informed, but a formal identification has not been made. A post-mortem examination will take place at Poplar mortuary today.

Officers from the Met’s child abuse team are investigating.