A MISSING mum was today feared to be one of two women whose bodies were found dumped in a freezer.

Murder detectives were urgently trying to identify the pair, whose remains were discovered at a council flat in London’s East End.

9 Mary Jane Mustafa, from Canning Town, went to the shops in May last year with just her phone and £3 but hasn't been seen since

9 A crime scene is in place and a murder investigation has been launched after two women were found dead at the house in East London Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

One was believed to be Mary Jane Mustafa, a 38-year-old mum of two who vanished mysteriously last May after popping to the shops with just her phone and £3 in her pocket.

The man being sought over the grim double murder was previously known to police and reported to be a registered sex offender.

He is alleged to have phoned a friend after the police raid in Vandome Close in Canning Town, East London, and said: "There’s something you should know. I’ve killed some women."

The two victims are not thought to be related.

Police raided the flat just before midnight on Friday.

The man, known as Ali by neighbours, was said to have been friendly with Mary Jane - who lived in nearby Canning Town.

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One resident said: “My mate saw Ali on Thursday and he looked anxious and scruffy.

“When the police turned up on Friday, Ali had disappeared.

“My mate phoned Ali and said there were loads of police at his flat - loads of them. Then the phone went dead.

“Ali called him back later and said ‘There’s something you should know - I’ve killed some women.’

“Later on my mate saw the police take away a big chest freezer from Ali’s place.”

He added: “Ali used to hang around with Mary Jane. She went missing a year ago and they’ve been searching for her ever since.”

9

9 Two bodies were discovered in a house in Canning Town on Friday Credit: The Sun

9 Forensic officers at the scene in Vandome Close in Canning Town Credit: Jamie Lorriman

Police said they attended the address in Newham, a stone’s throw from London’s Excel exhibition centre, at 11.45am last Friday following “concerns for the welfare of an occupant.”

A Met Police spokesman said: “Officers subsequently gained entry and discovered two bodies dead at the scene.

“The bodies are believed to be those of two females. We are working to carry out formal identification and trace next of kin.”

MISSING PERSONS INQUIRY

The disappearance of Mary Jane Mustafa, originally from Turkish-speaking Lefkosa, Cyprus, sparked a missing persons inquiry last year.

In January, her cousin Ayse Hussain renewed calls for anyone with information to come forward.

She said: “She’s missed her own birthday, her daughter’s birthday and now Christmas.

“I’ve been looking after her kids now and then, and I took her daughter Christmas shopping to keep her distracted. We just say mum has gone to sort herself out and say she’ll be back soon.

“Her daughter has just started secondary school and her son is 19.”

Last night, niece Hazel Ozulku wrote on Facebook: “There is no need to think negative at this point because we still believe she is fine and she will come home.”

Her sister Zeynep Mustafa Sukan wrote: “When are you coming home, sis? I miss you like you wouldn’t believe!”

9 One of the woman was believed to be Mary Jane Mustafa (pictured)

Forensics officers were yesterday combing the suspect’s ground-floor council flat. The property’s front windows were smashed and had been boarded up.

The Sun can reveal a man living at that address was twice called to court this year after failing to comply with supervision following his release from prison.

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Local Peter Emenyoun, 48, said: “An officer told my brother-in-law the killer stuffed the women’s bodies in the freezer.”

Another resident said the wanted man, who he knew as “Ali”, was known locally as a suspected paedophile and had his face slashed in an attack.

He said: “He supposedly had sex with a young girl and her brother tracked him down and beat him up.

“He was public enemy number one around here. A while ago someone smashed his windows.

“He was also done for stealing money from an elderly neighbour. A few people wanted his neck over that.

“A few months ago his face was slashed. He had to go to hospital and have stitches.

“He was the only one living in the flat. He had two children from a previous relationship but lived alone.”

'BIT DODGY'

Raymond Dredge, who lives in a ground floor flat in the adjacent council block, said: "He did seem a bit dodgy. He used to bring a lot of girls back.

"I smoke outside so I have seen him with a few girls of a similar age to him. He would just be walking along with them."

Another neighbour added: "He used to have parties in his flat where he'd bring a lot of girls and there would be a lot of noise."

Ranford Strachan, 85, who lives locally, said the discovery of the bodies was "shameful".

"I want to leave here now... it's a disgrace," he said. "I've never seen this place like this."

In a statement, the Met said: “Post-mortem examinations will be held in due course.

“The investigation is being led by the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

“There have been no arrests at this stage and enquiries continue.”

News of the find was suppressed by police for three days until yesterday afternoon as they carried out a major hunt for the suspect.

But the suspect was still at large last night as homicide detectives finally went public to appeal for information about the brutal murders.

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Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker, in charge of policing in the area, 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.

“A crime scene is in place and we would encourage anyone with information about what may have happened at this premises to contact police on 101, quoting CAD 4303/26APR.'

9 Police made the gruesome find after they were called to a ground floor flat in a residential block in Canning Town on Friday morning Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

9 The bodies were discovered by police responding to a welfare check at the house Credit: Louis Wood - The Sun

9 Forensics officers bag unknown items outside the property which is occupied by a 'sex offender' Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

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