Woman who died after shop stabbing named by police

BBC Bunches of flowers rest against a green-painted brick wall in front of a stretch of blue-and-white police tape. Beyond the tape is a white forensic tent and a number of police patrol cars. BBC
Flowers were laid close to the shop in Bootle where Nilani Nimalarajah was fatally stabbed

A woman who was fatally stabbed in a convenience store has been named as Nilani Nimalarajah.

Police were called to Low Cost Food & Wine on Stanley Road in Bootle, near its junction with Wadham Road, shortly after 17:00 BST on Friday.

The 44-year-old was taken to hospital but died a short time later from stab wounds to her chest, Merseyside Police said.

The force said a 47-year-old Widnes man was in hospital having "fallen ill" shortly after he was arrested on suspicion of murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Witnesses described children running out of the shop and screaming for help after the incident.

Bystanders tried to help the victim, who they said had collapsed by the shop entrance.

Det Insp Gavin Mulcahy previously said the attack was being treated as a domestic assault and that no-one else was being sought by police.

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