Police hunting the murderer of two French students in London say his victims suffered the most violent attacks they have ever seen.

The body of 23-year old Laurent Bonomo, and that of his friend Gabriel Ferez, also 23, were discovered bound and stabbed in a burning apartment. Witnesses saw a man running away from the scene.

“The extent of their injuries was horrific. Everyone working on this case has been deeply shocked by what they’ve seen. I’ve never seen injuries like this throughout my career,” said Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie.

Bonomo and Ferez were students in Clermont Ferrand in central France. They were spending three months at London’s Imperial College and are said to have been among the brightest students of their generation. Laurent Bonomo’s girlfriend wrote of her grief on his Facebook online site. Fellow-student Mary Bertez said she could not stop thinking about him and called for his death to be avenged.

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