Image copyright South Wales Police Image caption Nadine Aburas and Sammy Almahri were known to have a friendship, police say

Police have launched an international manhunt for a "dangerous" murder suspect after a 28-year-old woman was found dead in a Cardiff hotel room.

The body of Nadine Aburas, from the city, was found by staff at the Future Inn hotel on Hemmingway Road at about midday on New Year's Eve.

South Wales Police say they want to trace suspect Sammy Almahri, 44, a US national living in New York City.

Officers believe he is now in Tanzania, east Africa.

The force said Mr Almahri flew to the UK to meet Ms Aburas at the hotel just after Christmas.

Image copyright Google Image caption The pair both checked into the Future Inn hotel

Det Supt Paul Hurley said South Wales Police has a team of officers who are trying to trace him.

"We have been working closely with our counterparts in both NYPD and police officers in Tanzania," he said.

"From our enquiries we have discovered that Almahri is very resourceful and has access to funds, which may further assist his evasion from law enforcement agencies.

"I consider this man to be a dangerous individual and would advise that any knowledge of his location or sightings of him are reported immediately to the authorities and he is not to be approached."

Family tribute to Nadine Aburas

"Nadine was a lovely, bubbly girl and unique and talented woman.

"She always wanted to help people and everybody loved her.

"She has left such a massive hole in our family and we will miss her so much."

Det Supt Hurley said the hotel had been busy with people who were in the city to celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve.

He urged people who may have seen the pair together or on their own to come forward.

In particular, the force said people at the hotel or out in Cardiff Bay may have seen Mr Almahri and Ms Aburas together between 22:00 and 23:00 on 30 December.

A post-mortem examination has been completed but officers are waiting for further pathology results before confirming how Ms Aburas died.

Sammy Almahri timeline:

He entered the UK on Boxing Day and travelled to Cardiff on 28 December

Two days later, on 30 December, he checked into the Future Inn hotel at 20:25 GMT, before Ms Aburas arrived at about 21:00

He left the premises at 03:00 on New Year's Eve, nine hours before Ms Aburas's body was found

Police say he then took a flight from Heathrow to Bahrain later that day and may now be in Tanzania