2 French Students Stabbed, Burned In UK

London Police Appeal For Witnesses To Help Solve Murder Of Two French Grad Students

(AP)  British police appealed Thursday for witnesses to help solve the deaths of two French students who were stabbed dozens of times in the head and neck before being set on fire in their southeast London apartment.

Laurent Bonomo, 23, was stabbed nearly 200 times, while his friend, Gabriel Ferez, also 23, suffered nearly 50 stab wounds, authorities said while speaking on condition of anonymity in line with police policy. Investigators believe an accelerant was used in the fire, possibly in an attempt to destroy evidence, Britain's Press Association reported.

Neither student had a criminal record.

"I have never seen injuries inflicted to bodies like this before," Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie said at a news conference.

Authorities appealed for witnesses in the attack, which took place late Sunday. Authorities found the bodies after responding to reports of an explosion and fire, but only learned how the students died after the post-mortem examination results were delivered Wednesday.

"We are here today because I don't know why these boys were killed or who killed them," Duthie said. "I do believe, however, that those responsible must have been bloodstained when they left."

London has been gripped in recent weeks by a series of stabbing cases involving young people, leading to much soul searching about what has gone wrong with city's troubled youth. But the case of the French students is unique because the pair are foreigners and because of the brutality of the crime.

For a major capital, London has a low murder rate. Police say there were 159 homicides from April 2007 to the same month this year, about a third the number of New York, which is similar in size.

Authorities declined to speculate what might be behind the crime before further toxicology and other tests were completed.

The students were in the second year of a three-year master's degree in bioengineering in France and had been selected to take part in a three-month research project into DNA at London's Imperial College. They were within weeks of returning home.

At the Clermont-Ferrand Polytechnical School in southern France, where Bonomo and Ferez studied, four bouquets of flowers lay in the school's main entry hall.

"It's a huge shock. It is indescribable," said the school's director, Claude-Gilles Dussap. "They were two young people with their lives ahead of them, with goals to fulfill. And they were fulfilling them, because they were brilliant, they were doing internships at Imperial College."

Imperial College Rector Sir Roy Anderson also sent his condolences.

"Laurent and Gabriel had bright futures ahead of them, and it is dreadful that their lives should end so soon," he said.

[winnerindia]

ya ya, but why the U.K media is silent on the issue? there aren''t any news on BBC website and others!

[gkc99]

The Brits sure are lucky they ban guns for self defense!

[caliengineer]

Interesting.... the top 50 biologists in the United States have died in recent years. Typical CIA assassination stuff, though: "heart attack" (at 48 years old, etc), hit and run car crash, shot during robbery in park, stroke....

[rushlimpdrug]

What a terrible loss!

Not even sauted in butter?

Although when burned they taste more
like french toast than chicken.

[runningralph]

caliengineer, you are a conspiracy theorist I presume? First, what does your post have to do with murders in London? Second, why would the CIA want to kill biologists? Third, who told you that idiocy? Fourth, is Valerie Plume behind it?

[wonderyman-2009]

"What a terrible loss!
Not even sauted in butter?
Although when burned they taste more
like french toast than chicken."
Posted by rushlimpdrug

What a sick comment!

[patriot12436]

No matter where a crime occurs or who too, it is tragic and should be shown proper respect.

[sistatee-2009]

There''s a video security camera (telscreen, as Orwell called them) every five feet in London. Why can''t they track the perps'' movements?

[cdfoxtrot]

The Brits sure are lucky they ban guns for self defense!

Posted by gkc99

In a nation of 60m people, murders are so rare they make the national news. Not so here in the great US of A.

[cdfoxtrot]

ya ya, but why the U.K media is silent on the issue? there aren''''t any news on BBC website and others!

Posted by WinnerIndia

It''s on the BBC''s web site, with photos of the two French men.

[trishab4]

There have been many hate crimes committed by Muslims in the US in recent years. Now why are they not prosecuted as a hate crimes?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by corey2444 at 09:43 PM : Jul 03, 2008

-Are you not a self-hating Muslim, corey2444?

[lloydbest1]

I dunno. It MIGHT be a hate crime. But the perp(s) is(are) a whole lot more likely to be what we call a "nativist" over here than a Muslim.

[caliengineer]

About the hidden Muslim hate crimes... during the 1st gulf war, a cadet from San Francisco State (a girl) was wearing her navy uniform and was attacked by Muslims. They beat her bad enough to send her to the hospital, we were told. They also ordered us to not wear uniforms, except AT the unit for drill. AND to not mention this to any person.

I was a "Marine Corps Option" and had already been enlisted... so I wore my camouflage utilities the next day. Marines are supposed to defy orders sometimes...

[caliengineer]

I read an excellent article about a year ago which detailed several cases of Muslim violence. In all cases, the perp was described as delusional, but not Muslim. However, the perps WERE MUSLIM. The article gave proof in each case, with links, etc.

[slader99]

lol corey, youre retarded. By massive percentage numbers, whites in England AND America kill over the almost negligeable Muslim''s that kill. Its not even debatable. But somehow you want to show how scared you are of other people, and now want to ban them? Your type mindset is slowly dwindling, Corey; and its going to be a good thing when its completely gone.

[whiskyrocker]

You would think your arm would get tired after that many stab attemps. Poor ba$tards

[whiskyrocker]

calienginner :

I had a heart attack at @ 43 and my brother was hit by a car @ 34 yrs.old. Neither one of us or biologist.