Three men held over body found in suitcase

Three men have been arrested by UK detectives investigating the murder of a woman whose body was recovered in a suitcase from the Grand Union Canal, Scotland Yard said.

The suspects, aged 38, 34 and 30, were all arrested on suspicion of murder yesterday evening at separate residential addresses in north-west London.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said that for “strong operational reasons”, the arrests were only confirmed today. They remain in custody at north London police stations.

Detectives had originally described the discovery of the body in the Grand Union Canal near Maida Vale, west London, as “suspicious”.

Officers are not in a position to confirm how long the body had been in the water, Scotland Yard said.

A post-mortem examination carried out at Westminster Mortuary on Monday was inconclusive and further tests will be carried out.

Whilst formal identification has yet to take place detectives are confident that they know the identity of the woman, however next of kin have yet to be spoken to by MPS detectives.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Ashwin, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, who is leading the investigation said: “I would like to ask for the help of all those people who use, or live on, the Grand Union Canal.

“We now believe that the body, placed in a black suitcase, was placed in the Grand Union Canal at some point in the last two weeks.

“Whilst the body was recovered near to Little Venice it is highly likely that she entered the water further along the canal.

“Did you see or hear anything suspicious or see a black suitcase in the canal?”

Detectives have been carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the local area and obtaining CCTV.