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Fifth murdered woman identified Fifth murdered woman identified
(30 minutes later)
Suffolk police have confirmed the fifth murdered woman was Annette Nicholls who had been working as a prostitute in Ipswich when she was killed.Suffolk police have confirmed the fifth murdered woman was Annette Nicholls who had been working as a prostitute in Ipswich when she was killed.
The 29-year-old was discovered at Levington but a post mortem examination failed to reveal exactly how she died.The 29-year-old was discovered at Levington but a post mortem examination failed to reveal exactly how she died.
Police are treating her death as murder and are carrying out further tests.Police are treating her death as murder and are carrying out further tests.
Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull said: "The launch of a fifth murder inquiry in such a short space of time is unprecedented in Suffolk."Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull said: "The launch of a fifth murder inquiry in such a short space of time is unprecedented in Suffolk."
Police want to speak to anyone who saw Ms Nicholls between the last sighting of her by a member of the public at 2150 GMT on Norwich Road in Ipswich on Tuesday 5 December. Speaking at a news conference at Suffolk police headquarters in Martlesham, he said: "We are making good progress. We have had a significant response.
"She was wearing at that time dark grey patterned leggings, calf-length boots, a black top and a dark bomber jacket," Det Chief Supt Gull said. "We are looking at a number of interesting people, pursuing a number of interesting lines of inquiry.
He said toxicology tests would take time because the girls were "polydrug-users". href="/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/6175797.stm" class="">Satellite images of key locations
A candlelit service is to be held to comfort the friends of murdered prostitutes in a church close to where the bodies of two were found. "We have got a range of individuals who have been suggested to us. Some are local but some are not. Some are not punters."
The Rev Chris Wingfield will hold a service at St Peter's Church, Copdock, near Ipswich on Friday afternoon. Police want to speak to anyone who saw Ms Nicholls between the last sighting of her by a member of the public at 2150 GMT on Norwich Road in Ipswich on Tuesday 5 December and the discovery of her body on Tuesday 12 December.
He said people needed "time and space" to absorb the events of the last few days. "When she was last seen she was wearing dark grey patterned leggings, calf-length boots, a black top and a dark bomber jacket," Mr Gull said.
Police are expected later to reveal the results of post-mortem examinations on two of the bodies. He said toxicology tests would take time because the women were "polydrug-users" but he said his message to the people of Ipswich was "don't panic".
Speaking on BBC News, Assistant Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer said they may also confirm the identity of the fifth victim, 29-year-old Annette Nicholls, but police "would be guided by the wishes" of her family about when that would take place. All these resources are committed solely to catching those responsible for the murder of these five vulnerable women Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull
ACC Cheer said the main Felixstowe train line would be closed later today to allow a fuller investigation of the area by forensic science experts. "We need to make contact with anyone who saw Ms Nicholls in the last days of her life," he said.
'Reach out' Police had linked all five deaths and each had its own specialist team with co-ordination officers working between them.
Reverend Bruce Wakelin, chaplain to the Suffolk Police HQ, has written a special prayer for Ipswich. Suffolk Police are being helped by 26 other forces and 250 officers are working on the five murder inquiries.
It asks: "We pray for those who have been killed, that you will look in compassion on their troubled lives and deaths, for their families and friends." "All these resources are committed solely to catching those responsible for the murder of these five vulnerable women," Mr Gull said.
The church will remain open so those who cannot make the service can still come and contribute to the occasion. Detectives had received 1,800 calls from the public in the last 24 hours, on top of the 5,500 already logged.
St Peter's church is close to where the bodies of Gemma Adams and Tania Nicol were found in Belstead Brook.
Map: Where the bodies were found Map: Where the bodies were found
"It's a chance for the whole community to reach out," said its rector the Rev Chris Wingfield. Mr Gull reiterated his appeal for information about anyone who may have used two lay-bys on the Old Felixstowe Road near where the bodies of Ms Nicholls and 24-year-old prostitute Paula Clennell were found in Levington.
"We want to extend a very special invitation to the family and friends of the victims and members of police and all the agencies involved in the investigation." The other three murdered prostitutes are Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, and 24-year-old Anneli Alderton.
href="/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/6175797.stm" class="">Satellite images of key locations She was working as a prostitute. A candlelit service is to be held in a church close to where the bodies of two of the women were found and the public have been told they are welcome to attend.
The body of a second woman found in woodland at Levington near Nacton was removed on Thursday to allow Home Office pathologist Dr Nat Cary to carry out a post-mortem examination at a hospital in Ipswich. The Rev Chris Wingfield will hold the service at St Peter's Church, Copdock, near Ipswich on Friday afternoon.
Paula Clennell's body was one of two found at the site on Tuesday by police investigating three other murders. He said people needed "time and space" to absorb the events of the last few days.
The other three women who have been killed have been identified as Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol and Anneli Alderton.
A police spokeswoman said on Thursday that Ms Clennell was last seen at about at 0020 GMT on 10 December on Handford Road near its junction with Burlington Road, Ipswich.
Suffolk Police have set up a mobile unit in Ipswich town centre to provide rape alarms and leaflets advising women in the area how to stay safe.
Insp Ben Cook, in charge of operations there, said: "Due to tragic events people are very concerned in this area and we're taking the opportunity of late-night shopping, so that we can send a positive message to them and give them crime-prevention advice."
Almost 300 officers from nine forces are working on the inquiry and have received more than 6,000 calls from the public.
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