Police investigating the discovery of two women’s bodies in a freezer at a home in east London have arrested two men on suspicion of murder.

A 50-year-old man was arrested on Monday and has been released under investigation, while a 34-year-old man remains in custody following his arrest on Tuesday.

Scotland Yard have released no further details about the victims and the force said it was trying to trace and speak to their next of kin as a priority.

A crime scene remained in place around the small block of flats in Vandome Close, Canning Town, where the two bodies were found after a police search on Friday 26 April.

As part of their investigation, police showed neighbours a photograph of a woman who had been missing for about a year, amid speculation that she was one of the people found dead.

“I just found out one of the women who died is my friend,” said one local resident. “I’m in absolute shock. I’ve lived here for 38 years, my whole life.

“She was the most fun-loving person I’ve ever met. So caring, she would give you her last penny. My mate rang me to tell me and I fell to my sofa. I just feel sorry for her kids.”

“She was always nice, charming,” said another resident, who added that the woman had a history of drug abuse.

Officers in protective clothing were collecting evidence and removing it from the building, which contains six flats, as residents went in and out.

One of the flats’ windows was boarded up and was said to have been like that for some time. Another had been broken more recently – by police, according to neighbours – and had a black sheet across it.

The discovery of the bodies left nearby residents shaken. One occupant of the block, who did not want to be named, said he had only just learned about two bodies being found.

“I’m astonished,” he said. “We’re all tight-knit around here – everybody knows everybody.”

Another described life in the local area. “There’s too much violence,” said neighbour Ranford Strachan, who is retired. “About three weeks ago, I heard two women screaming so loudly from next door, I thought it was just a quarrel.”

A 29-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, said the area suffered from petty crime but the discovery of bodies was unusual. He said: “This is not common … it doesn’t put you at ease, you don’t know [under] what circumstances these people were killed. When you don’t know, you’re concerned.”

As officers conducted their investigation amid heightened community tensions, a commotion erupted at the top of the road and punches appeared to be thrown.

Several weeks ago, a man working at a shop was stabbed and residents spoke knowingly of “what goes on” locally but refused to provide further details for fear of being identified as a “grass”.

Councillors were walking around the area near Custom House station, just next to the ExCel centre, to reassure residents and collect facts. “This was a horrific crime and the council is working closely with the police to get to the bottom of it,” said Cllr James Beckles, the cabinet member for crime and community safety. “We’re encouraging residents to provide evidence to police confidentially.”

Nearby, on Monk Drive, officers were guarding a property while it was searched. There are fears for Mary-Jane Mustafa, 37, who was regularly seen at the house before she went missing in May last year, according to residents.

One woman, who wanted to be named as Bud, said she had heard he looked shocked when one of the arrested men was taken away. “They arrested him, put him in the back of the van and that’s it,” she said. “Everything goes on in there – drugs, women going in and out.”

The Metropolitan police would not confirm whether the address was connected with the double murder inquiry.

Det Supt Paul Monk, from the homicide and major command, said: “Our priority at this stage is of course to identify the victims so we can trace and update next of kin. There are number of strands to our investigation and we have now made two arrests. They were arrested at addresses in west and east London and we are searching those addresses and carrying out a number of enquiries.”





