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Students stabbed and set alight Students stabbed and set alight
(10 minutes later)
Two French research students found stabbed to death following a flat fire had been bound and suffered horrific, excessive injuries, police have said.Two French research students found stabbed to death following a flat fire had been bound and suffered horrific, excessive injuries, police have said.
The bodies of Laurent Bonomo, 23, and Gabriel Ferez, 23, were found in a ground floor flat in New Cross, south-east London, on Sunday night.The bodies of Laurent Bonomo, 23, and Gabriel Ferez, 23, were found in a ground floor flat in New Cross, south-east London, on Sunday night.
Police said they had suffered head, neck and chest injuries in a "frenzied" attack before being set alight.Police said they had suffered head, neck and chest injuries in a "frenzied" attack before being set alight.
The bio-engineers had been at Imperial College for two months.The bio-engineers had been at Imperial College for two months.
Det Ch Insp Mick Duthie said he had no idea why the students were killed. Det Ch Insp Mick Duthie said he had no idea why the students were killed. I have never seen injuries like this throughout my career Det Ch Insp Mick Duthie
Mistaken identity
Speaking at a news conference at Scotland Yard, he said the flat had been broken into six days before and a laptop had been stolen.Speaking at a news conference at Scotland Yard, he said the flat had been broken into six days before and a laptop had been stolen.
He also said a white male was seen running from the scene of the fire, but police have not ruled out the possibility others might have been involved in the murders.He also said a white male was seen running from the scene of the fire, but police have not ruled out the possibility others might have been involved in the murders.
Mr Duthie said one line of inquiry was that the attack was a case of mistaken identity. Mr Duthie said one line of inquiry was that the attack was a case of mistaken identity."We cannot find anything in these two young men's background to suggest they were involved in any criminality, that they had done anything wrong," he said.
I have never seen injuries like this throughout my career Det Ch Insp Mick Duthie Student deaths news conference
"We cannot find anything in these two young men's background to suggest they were involved in any criminality, that they had done anything wrong," he said.
Mr Duthie said both victims had been bound and had suffered repeated stab wounds across their bodies.Mr Duthie said both victims had been bound and had suffered repeated stab wounds across their bodies.
"The extent of the injuries are horrific. Everyone working on this case, including myself, has been deeply shocked by what we have seen."The extent of the injuries are horrific. Everyone working on this case, including myself, has been deeply shocked by what we have seen.
"I have never seen injuries like this throughout my career."I have never seen injuries like this throughout my career.
"I would not say this was a professional attack. I would say it was a frenzied, horrible, horrific attack."I would not say this was a professional attack. I would say it was a frenzied, horrible, horrific attack.
"I imagine it would take some considerable amount of time to inflict the nature of the injuries.""I imagine it would take some considerable amount of time to inflict the nature of the injuries."
The two bodies were found in the ground-floor flat The detective said no weapon has been recovered during extensive searches in the area and that they are studying some "limited" CCTV footage.The two bodies were found in the ground-floor flat
The detective said no weapon has been recovered during extensive searches in the area and that they are studying some "limited" CCTV footage.
Mr Duthie said the students had been in London since the beginning of May and were due to return to France at the end of July.Mr Duthie said the students had been in London since the beginning of May and were due to return to France at the end of July.
The emergency services were called after residents reported an explosion in Sterling Gardens on Sunday night.The emergency services were called after residents reported an explosion in Sterling Gardens on Sunday night.
Mr Ferez, who lived at another south London address, was visiting his close friend Mr Bonomo when the attack took place.Mr Ferez, who lived at another south London address, was visiting his close friend Mr Bonomo when the attack took place.
Mr Duthie said Mr Bonomo was known to be alive in the early hours of Sunday morning because he spoke to his girlfriend in France.Mr Duthie said Mr Bonomo was known to be alive in the early hours of Sunday morning because he spoke to his girlfriend in France.
The parents of the two men are in the UK and have had to identify their sons, police said.The parents of the two men are in the UK and have had to identify their sons, police said.
Police said Mr Bonomo, of Velaux, and Mr Ferez, of Prouzel, studied in Clermont-Ferrand, central France.Police said Mr Bonomo, of Velaux, and Mr Ferez, of Prouzel, studied in Clermont-Ferrand, central France.
Imperial College's Rector, Sir Roy Anderson, said: "Laurent and Gabriel had bright futures ahead of them and it is dreadful that their lives should end so soon."Imperial College's Rector, Sir Roy Anderson, said: "Laurent and Gabriel had bright futures ahead of them and it is dreadful that their lives should end so soon."