THE woman who was found dead in a property in East Oxford yesterday was a quiet person who kept herself to herself, one of her housemates said.

Magdalen Road was put into lockdown by emergency services after a call from a member of the public at about 7.50am and remained closed for three hours.

Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen said the lockdown was put in place due to concerns the person involved could have ‘access to chemicals’, with firefighters also donning orange environmental suits as a ‘precautionary measure’.

The woman's housemate, who asked not to be named, told the Oxford Mail she was one of five people who lived in the house and had been there for about two-and-a-half years.

He said: "The rooms here are self contained so we do not share the house as such.

"I had only seen her twice, she went out every morning either to college or to work.

"She was ordinary, not loud or anything out of the ordinary.

"She was quiet in her room, no partying, she fitted in with the rest of what is a mature household.

"I am an early morning cleaner and when I came back the street was taped off and I saw a ladder up against the house.

"Then I was told to go away.

"Perhaps we are not as shocked as if it was someone we were close to but it is still sad."

The police cordon extended from Iffley Road to Catherine Street as authorities dealt with what was described as a ‘fear for welfare’ incident. At least one building was also evacuated.

Magdalen Road was reopened at about 11.20am and Thames Valley Police confirmed a woman, thought to be in her 20s, had been found dead in a property.  

A cause of death has not been established but it is not being treated as suspicious, the force said.

People in the area yesterday described crowds of emergency service personnel arriving, ‘sirens blazing’ outside their homes.

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Picture: Richard Cave

Sam Diliberto, owner of Giovanni’s Barber Shop, said: “When I came to the shop there was a lot of sirens and more and more cars, police and fire engines were coming.

“It’s a family business so my first thought was actually I hope the family is okay. We weren’t told how long it would last.”

One resident, who lives in a flat in Magdalen Road, said emergency services banged on his door at 8.46am and evacuated his building opposite City Properties.

Police officers asked if he had smelt anything in the building.

The woman's housemate told the Oxford Mail that he could not smell anything when he returned from work.

Susan Thomas, 48, said she had tried to see what was going on from her front garden but was ordered back inside by police.

The writer added: “I was quite scared. 

“They were being very secretive about what’s going on.

“There were lots of police and firemen outside my house and it looked like they had brought some equipment in.

“I wanted to get a paper and was just standing in my own front garden, but they kept sending me back in.”

Other residents reported being able to leave their houses but not being allowed back through the cordon.

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Picture: Andrew Walmsley

One Catherine Street resident, who asked not to be named, said she was woken up to sirens blaring.

She said: “It was scary. This sort of thing doesn’t happen here.

“It just kept getting louder with more and more police coming.”

Sam Thompson, from The Rusty Bicycle pub, said: “It seemed like a pretty major operation.”

Almas Farzi, from Asylum Welcome, based in Magdalen Road, said: “I came in quite early at 7.30am or 8am but I struggled to get to the office and ended up parking elsewhere.

“I walked to the street and got into the office but after that point they closed the road off and were not letting anyone into the area.

“There was no explanation whatsoever; no further explanation.

“The businesses around us were all desperate for a bit of news. 

“We asked the police for information but they said they could not tell us.”

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The owner of Silvester Stores, in Magdalen Road, said he had never seen such a large presence in the area in the 30 years he had been at the store.

Stuart Silvester, 50, said: “I came to work at about 9am and saw all of these unmarked police cars rush past.

“It makes you wonder because nothing like that happens here.

“I have been here 30 years and have never seen such a large police presence.”

Forensic police officers remained at the property for most of the day after Magdalen Road was reopened. 

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Police later said it was ‘yet to be established’ if there was any real threat to residents from chemicals, but said the street was closed as a precaution.

When spokesman James Williams was asked if any chemicals were found at the flat, he said it was ‘not known at this time’. 

He added: “The woman died in the property. We do not believe anyone was with her.”

The force said the woman’s suspected cause of death was a matter for the coroner.

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  • Picture: Charley Lawson

Neighbours in shock 

RESIDENTS reacted with shock following the drama in Magdalen Street on Friday morning.

Peter Asbury, 41, lives a few doors away and he said it was ‘alarming’.
Speaking at the scene he said: “I went out at about 8.30 to go to the hospital and when I came back the cordon had grown and there were police and emergency services everywhere.

“I have never seen anything like it. We have lived here six years and it was on such a large scale.

“It is alarming and it’s only a few doors down but I don’t know the people there.”

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Picture: Andrew Walmsley

Next door neighbour Ryan Ngarambe, 20, said he was in shock after what had happened.

The art and design student at Oxford Brookes University said: “The people in those flats are very quiet and keep themselves to themselves.
“I don’t know them but it is very shocking, I am shocked by what happened.”