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| DNA sweep to catch killer rapist | DNA sweep to catch killer rapist |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Officers looking for a murderer and suspected serial rapist are asking men in east London to give DNA samples. | Officers looking for a murderer and suspected serial rapist are asking men in east London to give DNA samples. |
| Detectives believe whoever raped and strangled Michelle Samaraweera, 35, in Walthamstow, lives nearby. | Detectives believe whoever raped and strangled Michelle Samaraweera, 35, in Walthamstow, lives nearby. |
| Police believe the same man may have raped two other women - a 59-year-old in March and a 46-year-old in April, both less than a mile from the murder. | Police believe the same man may have raped two other women - a 59-year-old in March and a 46-year-old in April, both less than a mile from the murder. |
| House-to-house inquiries have begun with those matching the suspect's description asked to provide DNA. | House-to-house inquiries have begun with those matching the suspect's description asked to provide DNA. |
| The suspect is described as Asian, or with dark skin, and aged between 30 and 45 years. | The suspect is described as Asian, or with dark skin, and aged between 30 and 45 years. |
| ...this is the quickest and most comprehensive way to eliminate men from our investigation Det Supt Vic Rae | ...this is the quickest and most comprehensive way to eliminate men from our investigation Det Supt Vic Rae |
| Miss Samaraweera's partially-clothed body was found by a passer-by in Queens Road Park at 0550 BST on 30 May. | Miss Samaraweera's partially-clothed body was found by a passer-by in Queens Road Park at 0550 BST on 30 May. |
| She was last seen alive at a nearby Somerfield shop five hours earlier. Officers are appealing for help in trying to trace her movements from 2200 BST on 29 May to when her body was found. | She was last seen alive at a nearby Somerfield shop five hours earlier. Officers are appealing for help in trying to trace her movements from 2200 BST on 29 May to when her body was found. |
| Police said she was a widower who was living with her boyfriend in Walthamstow. She had no children. | Police said she was a widower who was living with her boyfriend in Walthamstow. She had no children. |
| Det Supt Vic Rae said: "The DNA test is designed solely to apprehend the individual responsible for Michelle's brutal murder and the two linked sexual assaults. | Det Supt Vic Rae said: "The DNA test is designed solely to apprehend the individual responsible for Michelle's brutal murder and the two linked sexual assaults. |
| "Much consideration and planning has gone into this decision and we feel this is the quickest and most comprehensive way to eliminate men from our investigation." | "Much consideration and planning has gone into this decision and we feel this is the quickest and most comprehensive way to eliminate men from our investigation." |
| Terrible ordeal | Terrible ordeal |
| He added: "While stranger murders and sexual assaults are incredibly rare we have to be mindful of the terrible ordeal these ladies endured. | He added: "While stranger murders and sexual assaults are incredibly rare we have to be mindful of the terrible ordeal these ladies endured. |
| "Michelle suffered a terrifying assault and the physical abuse against the other two women was significant." | "Michelle suffered a terrifying assault and the physical abuse against the other two women was significant." |
| Her murder has been linked with two similar attacks. | Her murder has been linked with two similar attacks. |
| The first took place at an address close to Queens Road on 24 March when a 59-year-old woman was forced inside her home and raped. | The first took place at an address close to Queens Road on 24 March when a 59-year-old woman was forced inside her home and raped. |
| The second, in which a 46-year-old woman was attacked in an alleyway off nearby Lea Bridge Road, took place in the early hours of 22 April. | The second, in which a 46-year-old woman was attacked in an alleyway off nearby Lea Bridge Road, took place in the early hours of 22 April. |
| Two men arrested on 30 May have been released with no further action. | Two men arrested on 30 May have been released with no further action. |
| A further two men arrested the next day have been bailed until July pending further inquiries. | A further two men arrested the next day have been bailed until July pending further inquiries. |
| A Metropolitan Police spokesman said he believed the last time they carried a similar DNA sweep was is 2006 for the Sally Anne Bowman murder investigation in South Croydon, south London. |