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Body thought to be Arnis Zalkalns is removed from park | Body thought to be Arnis Zalkalns is removed from park |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A body believed to be that of Arnis Zalkalns, the prime suspect in the murder of Alice Gross, has been removed from a London park by police. | A body believed to be that of Arnis Zalkalns, the prime suspect in the murder of Alice Gross, has been removed from a London park by police. |
The badly-decomposed corpse was discovered in dense woodland in Boston Manor Park, west London, on Saturday. | The badly-decomposed corpse was discovered in dense woodland in Boston Manor Park, west London, on Saturday. |
Alice, 14, from Hanwell, west London, disappeared on 28 August. Her body was found in the River Brent on Tuesday. | Alice, 14, from Hanwell, west London, disappeared on 28 August. Her body was found in the River Brent on Tuesday. |
On Sunday afternoon, dozens of officers lined-up in the park and searched through the grass. | |
Police said further searches were to look for any further evidence and they were not searching for anything in particular. | |
While formal identification of the body is yet to take place, Zalkalns' partner has been informed of the find, Scotland Yard said. | |
Alice was last seen walking along the Grand Union Canal and 41-year-old Zalkalns was filmed cycling minutes behind her on the same route the day she vanished. | |
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Although no formal identification has been made, early indications suggest the body may be that of Arnis Zalkalns. | A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Although no formal identification has been made, early indications suggest the body may be that of Arnis Zalkalns. |
"We have updated his partner and a family liaison officer is supporting her." | "We have updated his partner and a family liaison officer is supporting her." |
The body has been taken to a west London mortuary. | The body has been taken to a west London mortuary. |
Police officers were posted at all entrances to the park, which backs on to the River Brent, following the discovery of the body on Saturday afternoon. | Police officers were posted at all entrances to the park, which backs on to the River Brent, following the discovery of the body on Saturday afternoon. |
Zalkalns was last seen at his Ealing home on 3 September. | Zalkalns was last seen at his Ealing home on 3 September. |
The builder, from Latvia, served seven years in prison in his native country for bludgeoning and stabbing his wife Rudite to death before moving to the UK in 2007. | The builder, from Latvia, served seven years in prison in his native country for bludgeoning and stabbing his wife Rudite to death before moving to the UK in 2007. |
When police found Alice's body on Tuesday they said significant efforts had been made to conceal it. | When police found Alice's body on Tuesday they said significant efforts had been made to conceal it. |
Her post-mortem examination at Uxbridge mortuary took two days due to the "complex nature" of the investigation, Scotland Yard said. | |
Further tests are to be carried out on the teenager's body after the post-mortem proved inconclusive. | |
Hundreds of messages have been added to a book of condolence set up in Ealing town hall, the council's leader Julian Bell said. | |
He said people "queued out the door" at one stage as they waited patiently in line to pay their respects. | He said people "queued out the door" at one stage as they waited patiently in line to pay their respects. |
The book will eventually be passed on to Alice's family, while talks will be held at a later stage over the prospect of a permanent memorial, he added. | The book will eventually be passed on to Alice's family, while talks will be held at a later stage over the prospect of a permanent memorial, he added. |
'Much loved' | 'Much loved' |
Following the discovery of Alice's body, her parents Rosalind Hodgkiss and Jose Gross said: "Why anyone would want to hurt her is something that we are struggling to come to terms with. | Following the discovery of Alice's body, her parents Rosalind Hodgkiss and Jose Gross said: "Why anyone would want to hurt her is something that we are struggling to come to terms with. |
"Alice was a loving and much loved daughter and sister, a quirky live spark of a girl, beautiful inside and out." | "Alice was a loving and much loved daughter and sister, a quirky live spark of a girl, beautiful inside and out." |
Scotland Yard said Alice's family were being kept abreast of the latest developments, but added: "Officers are still searching for evidence, and once again appeal to the public for any information that could assist them." | Scotland Yard said Alice's family were being kept abreast of the latest developments, but added: "Officers are still searching for evidence, and once again appeal to the public for any information that could assist them." |
People living near the park have expressed their alarm at the discovery of a body so close to them. | People living near the park have expressed their alarm at the discovery of a body so close to them. |
A 57-year-old woman who only gave her first name, Zahra, said: "I used to like this park, but now I feel it's not a safe place. | A 57-year-old woman who only gave her first name, Zahra, said: "I used to like this park, but now I feel it's not a safe place. |
"I have been very upset about Alice Gross, I couldn't sleep when the body was found." | "I have been very upset about Alice Gross, I couldn't sleep when the body was found." |
Ingrid Zalalis, 46, who was with her daughter, said: "We also go on our bicycles near the canal, and spent a lot of time looking there after Alice went missing. | Ingrid Zalalis, 46, who was with her daughter, said: "We also go on our bicycles near the canal, and spent a lot of time looking there after Alice went missing. |
"There are areas in these woods where people don't go." | "There are areas in these woods where people don't go." |