THE man held after an 82-year-old grandmother was beheaded remains in hospital under police guard as officers wait to question him.

The 25-year-old is held in connection with the murder of Palmira Silva in Edmonton, north London yesterday, after going on the rampage through back gardens ranting about cats.

Police were forced to stage a dramatic evacuation operation to save neighbours, and an armed squad Tasered the knifeman as he struggled against officers, leaving one with a broken wrist.

Today staff in shops near the cafe that the Italian pensioner ran were stunned by news of her death.

Silva's Cafe in Church Street, near Edmonton Green station, was shuttered up as people tried to come to terms with the tragedy.

Dilek Solma, 19, working behind the counter in a fruit and vegetable shop next door, said: "I'm so upset. She was a very smiley lady, always had a smile on her face, and loved the community. "

Yesterday witnesses described seeing a man dressed in black, waving a machete as he wandered screaming and shouting through back gardens.

A neighbour who knew Ms Silva said the widow was "such a sweet lady" who had lived in the house for more than 25 years and still went to work every day.

The house in the busy street where Ms Silva's body was found was the scene of a major police operation that continued into the night.

Scotland Yard said that its officers distracted the man after he was seen going through back gardens in Nightingale Road to prevent him attacking anyone else, while they evacuated people from nearby homes.

Officers from the Met's homicide and major crime command are investigating an attempted attack on two people at another house before Ms Silva was killed.

A resident described seeing a man brandishing a machete and shouting about cats. The witness said he also saw a headless cat.

Metropolitan Police commander Simon Letchford said police were trying to establish the attacker's motive, but there are no signs of a link to terrorism.