SABINA KILLER STILL AT LARGE

■ Dramatic twist as 38-year-old man held over murder is released ■ Victim’s sister warns other women to stick to busy streets at night ■ 500 at emotional park vigil as Kate speaks of her sadness over killing

The sister of murdered teacher Sabina Nessa has urged women to stick to busy streets at night as it emerged her killer is still at large.

A desperate manhunt was under way last night for a suspect captured on CCTV close to where Miss Nessa was hit over the head with a hammer.

The 28-year-old was heading out to meet a first date in Kidbrooke, south-east London, when a predator leapt out of the darkness and attacked her at 8.30pm last Friday.

Yesterday, her distraught family spoke out to issue a plea to women and girls to think about where they walk at night.

The Duchess of Cambridge also acknowledged rising concerns about the safety of women. Kate Middleton said: ‘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.’

It is understood flowers were left on Kate’s behalf in Pegler Square, near where Miss Nessa was attacked and where hundreds gathered for a vigil last night.

Boris Johnson said last night: ‘My thoughts are with the family and friends of Sabina Nessa at this deeply distressing time. We will do everything we can to prevent these abhorrent crimes and make our streets safer.’

The Prime Minister’s official Twitter account tweeted a photo of the door to No10 Downing Street with a lit candle on the doorstep, and the words: ‘Tonight we remember Sabina Nessa.’

Sabina’s older sister, Jebina Yasmin Islam, broke down in tears at the vigil as she spoke of her family’s loss.

She said: ‘Sabina loved her family. We have lost our sister, my parents have lost their daughter, my girls have lost such a brilliant, loving caring auntie... Words can not describe how we are feeling. This feels like being stuck in a bad dream and we can’t get out of it. Our world is shattered.’

In a separate statement, she added: ‘I urge everyone to walk on busy streets when walking home from work, school or a friend’s homes. Please keep safe.’

Miss Nessa’s uncle Shahin Miah said his niece’s murder had raised questions about the safety of women. ‘In a country like the UK, this insecurity of women is deeply worrying. 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.

‘Our only demand at the moment is to immediately bring the killers to justice by way of a thorough investigation into the murder and to ensure severe punishment for the killer.

‘At the same time, we call on everyone to be alert and aware of the way the crime trend is increasing day by day and the way innocent people are being targeted by the cold senseless individuals.’

Mr Miah added: ‘My niece Sabina was a kind, open-minded person. Always smiling and helping others in times of danger – it made her bigger than anyone else in the family. her dream was to use her knowledge and talents to teach primary school children, and bring joy to them.’

Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Lawry told those gathered: ‘Not only do we stand with you tonight – we do this going forward. Please help us catch the person responsible for this shocking incident.’

It came as a 38-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday was released under investigation. Sources said the killer, believed to be a stranger, remained on the loose.

Detectives have recovered a grainy CCTV clip showing the killer carrying out the attack.

It raises the terrifying prospect that the stranger was lying in wait for the young teacher, whose body was carried into Cator Park before being hidden under a pile of leaves, 200 yards away from her home. She lay undiscovered until it was found by a passing dogwalker at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Yesterday officers issued CCTV stills and video footage of a man they urgently want to trace. Dressed in a hooded black jacket and jeans, the balding man is seen strolling out of the shadows in Pegler Square on Friday evening. he looks furtively over his shoulder in the clip, and clutches an orange item resembling reflective clothing.

Last night police were searching the road where the man was captured on CCTV. In farcical scenes, officers started forensic searches of the square as crowds started to arrive for the vigil. The road had been open to the public for the past week and was only declared a

crime scene shortly before the vigil was due to take place.

Search teams with sticks were seen combing flower beds near a platform where a photograph of Miss Nessa was on display.

Residents said it was ‘bizarre’ that the area was not designated a crime scene until almost a week after Miss Nessa’s body was discovered. The searches prompted speculation that the killer may have discarded a weapon or left other forensic evidence in the area.

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe yesterday asked for help in tracing the man at the centre of their inquiries. She said: ‘Anybody out there who may know who he is, or if you’ve seen that footage, and you have any information, no matter how small, please do get in touch.’ She declined to comment on the cause of death, which remains unknown after post-mortem examination results proved inconclusive.

Responding to concerns about women’s safety, the senior officer said: ‘It’s really important to us that we don’t ask women to change their behaviour. Violence against women and girls is a priority for police across the UK, but we’re really conscious that women should be free to go about their lives without fear of abuse.’

The murder has been compared to the killing of 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard as she walked home alone in south London in March.

Sufia Alam, of the East London Mosque and the Maryam Centre, said: ‘This brutal murder of one of our shining stars is genuinely saddening and deeply shocking. Sarah Everard was one of our daughters, and so was Sabina Nessa – their lives were tragically cut short at the hands of violence and brutality.’

Yesterday, a group of children from Rushey Green Primary School where Miss Nessa worked left flowers at the scene.