14/04/2004

Man arrested over canal torso find

A man has been arrested following the discovery of a woman's torso in a suitcase which was floating in London's Regent's Canal.

Police were called to the Regents Canal in Islington on Saturday after a group of teenagers spotted a suitcase floating in the water. They managed to pull the case from the water and discovered a human torso inside.

A post mortem has established that the torso is that of a black Afro Caribbean woman aged between 18 and 30 years. It was thought that the woman was around 5ft 3" tall and of slim build. The examination revealed that she had been dead for at least two days.

It was not possible to confirm the cause of death, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said.

Detectives from the Specialist Crime Directorate (East) have searched three addresses in north London – one of which has been forensically examined. Police believe they may have found the location where the body was dismembered.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have seen a suitcase being thrown into the canal last week, or anyone who knows of a black Afro-Caribbean woman aged between 18 and 30 years who has been missing for the last few days, to contact them or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

(gmcg)

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