Slavery suspects were leaders of extremist group

The couple who allegedly held three women for more than 30 years were leaders of an extremist Maoist collective, it has been claimed.

A senior Lambeth Council source confirmed Aravindan Balakrishnan and his wife Chanda were arrested last week by police amid allegations that they held three women for more than 30 years.

The alleged victims — a 57-year-old Irishwoman, a 30-year-old Briton, and a 69-year-old Malaysian — are believed to have suffered years of “physical and mental abuse” at the hands of the pair.