Man charged with attempted murder after 'horrific' hammer attack on mother and daughter in London

A man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder following a hammer attack in south-east London which left a mother and daughter fighting for life.

Joe Xuereb, 27, is to appear in court in connection with a “horrific” assault on Ania Gos, 30, and her mother, 64, in a street in New Eltham, Greenwich.

Officers were called to Adderley Gardens at 12.10pm on Sunday and found two women suffering from devastating injuries “consistent with a violent assault”, Scotland Yard said.

They were taken to south London hospitals, where they remained in a critical condition on Tuesday morning.

Police believe a hammer found at the scene was used in the attack, which detective superintendent Jane Corrigan described as “horrific”.

Witnesses said a man calmly cycled away following the assault.

Mr Xuereb, of Greenwich, was arrested on Sunday following a media appeal. He is due to appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

On Monday, Ms Gos’s employer S&P Global said colleagues were “extremely shocked and saddened” by the “senseless” attack.

Her Linkedin page lists her as a business support worker for the financial services firm, which has offices in Canary Wharf.

Her mother, who has not been named, was visiting from Poland when she was attacked, neighbours said.

Neither woman is thought to have known Mr Xuereb.