LONDON (AFP) — A 33-year-old man appeared in court Thursday charged with the brutal murders of two French students in London, while police arrested another suspect in the south of the capital.
Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, were found stabbed to death in Bonomo's burnt-out flat in New Cross in southeast London on June 29.
Bonomo was stabbed nearly 200 times -- with up to 80 of the wounds inflicted after he died -- while Ferez suffered nearly 50 knife wounds.
Nigel Farmer, who is unemployed and of no fixed address, appeared in court charged with their murders as well as arson and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He was remanded in custody until October 16, when he will appear at England's main criminal court, known as The Old Bailey.
Later Thursday, police arrested Daniel Sonnex, less than an hour after issuing an urgent appeal for his whereabouts, describing him as having "connections" to the tough New Cross area where the students were killed.
"Sonnex is considered to be a dangerous man," the police statement calling for information on the 23-year-old had said. Police had urged the public not to approach him as they released a photograph of the suspect.
Two further suspects remain in custody at a south London police station. They are a 35-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, who were identified only as "C" and "D" respectively after their arrest on Wednesday.
Bonomo and Ferez had been attending an exchange programme at London's prestigious Imperial College.
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