Hope Rowe, 32, charged with murder of 31-year-old woman named by police as Charlotte Lawle

A crime scene remains in place at the address in Duckett Street, east London. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian

A woman has been charged with murder after another woman was stabbed to death in east London, police have said.

Hope Rowe, 32, from the Tower Hamlets area of the capital, has also been charged with possession of a bladed article, and is due to appear at Thames magistrates court on Monday morning, Scotland Yard has said.

Officers were called at 1.17am on Sunday to reports of a woman with stab injuries in the foyer of a block of flats in Duckett Street. London ambulance service was also called out. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Metropolitan police.

Officers said they were confident the deceased was 31-year-old Charlotte Lawler, but said formal identification had not yet taken place. Her next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, but has been released on bail, the force said on Monday morning. A crime scene remains in place at the address and inquiries are ongoing. Police have urged anyone with information that could assist to contact them.

Acting DCI Ben Dalloway, of the Met’s specialist crime command, said: 

Det Supt Mike Cagney, from the force’s local unit, said: “My thoughts are with the family of this young woman at this very difficult time. Following this awful incident, my officers are working closely with our specialist colleagues to understand exactly what has occurred.

“Over the coming days local officers will be in and around Duckett Street to provide any reassurance that the community needs but also as an opportunity for anyone with concerns, or any information about this incident, to speak with us.”