Canning Town murder: Women's bodies in freezer in flat Published duration 30 April 2019 Related Topics London violence

image copyright PA image caption The entrance to the block has been cordoned off while investigations take place

A murder inquiry is under way after two women's bodies were found inside a freezer at a flat in east London.

Officers found the human remains when they were called to Vandome Close in Canning Town.

The women have not been formally identified and post-mortem examinations have not yet taken place.

Two men, aged 50 and 34, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Both remain in custody at London police stations.

They were arrested at two separate addresses in west and east London, both of which are being searched by police.

Missing

The Metropolitan Police said it was trying to identify both victims and contact their next of kin as a "priority".

The family of 37-year-old Mary-Jane Mustafa, who has been missing since May 2018, have gathered at the scene in Canning Town.

Her sister Mel Mustafa, 47, said: "She is the most kind-hearted person you could meet and I still don't believe it's her."

Cousin Ceylan Sunda, 53, added: "The family's upside down. We don't even know for sure yet."

Officers were called to the address at 11:45 BST on Friday following concerns for the welfare of a male resident.

Det Supt Paul Monk said a "large crime scene" was in place and expected to remain "for some time".

At the scene

By Greg McKenzie, BBC London

image copyright PA

I've managed to get inside an adjacent block next door to the flats that have been taped off by police.

In the back garden there is a blue tent and police cordons are in place.

It's a quiet residential area in east London - but one person has told me they are petrified to live here.

The Met has now confirmed the bodies were found in a freezer.

It comes after a witness said a fridge was carried out of the property on the Friday and into the back of a police van.

So far in 2019, more than 40 murder investigations have been launched in London by the Metropolitan and British Transport police forces.

Det Ch Supt Richard Tucker said: "The launch of any murder investigation is naturally of concern to the local community.

"We have borough officers in the area supporting colleagues from the Homicide and Major Crime Command as they investigate the full circumstances."