A 27-year-old woman from Hyderabad has been stabbed to death by her Brazilian flatmate in London's Wembley. Kontham Tejaswini, who had gone to London for higher studies, was allegedly attacked at a residential property around 10 am on Tuesday.
The Metropolitan Police has arrested the main accused and another man.
While Tejaswini died on the spot, the Metropolitan Police said a second woman, aged 28, was taken to a hospital with stab injuries "that were later assessed as not life-threatening". The incident took place in Neeld Crescent, Wembley.
Police in Hyderabad said the Brazilian accused "appears to have been" a drug addict who tried to extort money from Tejaswini and stabbed her when she refused.
Tejaswini's cousin in Hyderabad, identified as Vijay, said the suspect had moved into the shared accommodation - where Tejaswini lived with her friends - less than a week ago. Tejaswini had gone to London three years ago to get her Master's degree.
"The Brazilian man had moved in a few days ago. Tejaswini and he had barely spoken, we have no idea why he would attack her," said Vijay.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police said, "Two people, a 24-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. The man remains in custody. The woman has been released without further action."
Another suspect, a 23-year-old man, has also now been arrested. News agency PTI stated that the Metropolitan Police had earlier released an image of Brazilian national Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais and sought the public's help in tracing him.
"He was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody at a north London police station," the Met Police said, without naming him again as he can now be named only if he is charged, according to the PTI report.
V Satyanarayana, a senior police officer in Hyderabad, told NDTV that Tejaswini had recently completed her Master of Science degree and visited India about a month ago. The family lives in Hyderabad's Champapet and Tejaswini's father does electrical work and also owns agricultural land.
"Tejaswini was believed to be looking for a job opportunity. She was living in the shared accommodation with two other girls, including one Akhila, who also suffered stab injuries, and another girl from West Bengal," said Mr Satyanarayana.
"The accused appears to have been a drug addict who tried to extort money from Tejaswini. When she refused, he stabbed her, according to our information," he added.
"This has been a fast-moving investigation and I would like to thank the public for sharing our appeal for information about this man. He is now in custody," an officer in London, Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, was quoted by the Metropolitan Police as saying.
"I recognise the significant concern this incident has caused in the community and I would like to reassure the public that a dedicated team of detectives are working to establish what happened (sic)," she added.
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