Students murdered and set alight

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) - Two French DNA research students were tied up, repeatedly stabbed and left in a burning flat in an attack described by one senior detective on Thursday as the most shocking he had ever seen.

The bodies of Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23, were found in a house in southeast London after neighbours heard an explosion and saw a man running from the scene.

The Metropolitan Police said the biochemistry students working on a DNA project were covered with stab wounds all over their bodies.

The friends were dead before the fire started at Bonomo's rented flat in New Cross late on Sunday.

"The extent of their injuries was horrific," said Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie. "Everyone working on this case has been deeply shocked by what they've seen. I've never seen injuries like this throughout my career.

"The level of violence used on these two victims was excessive, it's horrendous".

Officers have no idea why they were attacked and appealed for anyone who knew them to come forward. They had no criminal links or contact with the police in France or England, Duthie added.

"They are of good character. We cannot understand why these two young men were targeted," Duthie said.