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| Frenchman held over missing women | Frenchman held over missing women |
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| Police in France have detained a man in the southern city of Marseille after the disappearance of three foreign prostitutes in the space of a month. | Police in France have detained a man in the southern city of Marseille after the disappearance of three foreign prostitutes in the space of a month. |
| A search is on for the three women, two of whom ex-convict Patrick Salameh, 51, is suspected of abducting and holding in an apartment, officials say. | A search is on for the three women, two of whom ex-convict Patrick Salameh, 51, is suspected of abducting and holding in an apartment, officials say. |
| He is also suspected of involvement in the disappearance of a third woman. | He is also suspected of involvement in the disappearance of a third woman. |
| A fourth woman, whom he is suspected of abducting and raping, was released and has given evidence to French police. | |
| Two of the missing women are a Ukrainian aged 42, and an Algerian aged 28. | Two of the missing women are a Ukrainian aged 42, and an Algerian aged 28. |
| Investigators found the DNA of at least one woman and other evidence in a flat in the city's Saint-Mitre district used by the suspect, who reportedly refuses to speak. | Investigators found the DNA of at least one woman and other evidence in a flat in the city's Saint-Mitre district used by the suspect, who reportedly refuses to speak. |
| The third missing woman is a 23-year-old Romanian and the alleged rape victim is a Moroccan aged 24. | The third missing woman is a 23-year-old Romanian and the alleged rape victim is a Moroccan aged 24. |
| 'Deeply troubling' | 'Deeply troubling' |
| Police spokesman Roland Gauze said the priority was finding the missing women. | Police spokesman Roland Gauze said the priority was finding the missing women. |
| "We shall see if we find bodies or living persons," he told reporters, describing their disappearance as "deeply troubling". | "We shall see if we find bodies or living persons," he told reporters, describing their disappearance as "deeply troubling". |
| Mr Salameh was arrested on 12 November following descriptions given by the Moroccan woman and another man questioned during investigations into the disappearance of the women, the French news agency AFP reports. | Mr Salameh was arrested on 12 November following descriptions given by the Moroccan woman and another man questioned during investigations into the disappearance of the women, the French news agency AFP reports. |
| The Ukrainian woman vanished on the night of 5-6 October on the boulevards of the city centre. The Algerian disappeared on 7-8 November on her way to meet a client. | The Ukrainian woman vanished on the night of 5-6 October on the boulevards of the city centre. The Algerian disappeared on 7-8 November on her way to meet a client. |
| The missing Romanian has not been seen since 22 October. | The missing Romanian has not been seen since 22 October. |
| Patrick Salameh served 16 years for armed robbery and was released from prison in Marseille in 2005. | Patrick Salameh served 16 years for armed robbery and was released from prison in Marseille in 2005. |
| Originally from the Var region of southern France, he taught himself to paint in prison and was described by Mr Gauze as a "cerebral type". | Originally from the Var region of southern France, he taught himself to paint in prison and was described by Mr Gauze as a "cerebral type". |