People were shocked to find Geeta Aulakh's mutilated body on the streets near a chil-minder's house where she had gone to collect her two children. She was working as a receptionist in the popular Asian radio station Sunrise Radio.
Horrified passers-by took her to the hospital where she died four hours later. Friends described her as a "fun-loving girl" who separated from her husband Harpreet, known as Sunny, about a year ago.
A police said Harpreet Aulakh was among six men arrested in connection with her death. Seema Sidha, a news producer at Sunrise, said she could not understand why her friend had been killed.
She said: "It is an absolute shock for everyone. Who would do such a thing to another person? To cut her hand off, who would do that?"
Sidha and Geeta left office together at 6.30 pm local time on Monday before the latter took a bus as normal to pick up her children in Greenford. Half an hour later she was attacked. She was pronounced dead at 11.20 pm at Charing Cross Hospital, killed by a blow to the head.
Avtar Lit, chairman of Lit Corporation that owns Sunrise Radio, described the killing as "unbelievable."
"There's a close-knit staff here. To think that less than 24 hours ago she was answering the phone here," Lit said.
The local media said Aulakh was born in Britain, while her estranged husband was born in Punjab. The couple had been separated for a year and she had custody of their two sons.
Aulakh had recently returned after a visit to Punjab where she had attended a cousin's wedding.
Acting detective chief inspector Andy Chalmers said: "When the victim was found we know that a lot of people were in the street and that several people may have tried to administer first aid before the police or ambulance arrived.
The Metropolitan police have launched a murder inquiry.
Anyone with information has been asked to call the London incident room on 020 8358 0200 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
