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VIDEO: French students bound and stabbed

11:24am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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By Jon Cheetham »

TWO French research students were bound and repeatedly stabbed before being set alight in a flat in New Cross.

Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez had been in the country only a matter of weeks before they were brutally murdered in a bedsit in Sterling Gardens rented by Mr Bonomo.

The 23-year-old biochemists were working on a three-month research project into DNA at Imperial College, London.

Emergency services were called to the flat after neighbours in the quiet residential cul-de-sac reported hearing and an explosion.

A fire quickly took hold in the flat which had been soaked with accelerants at about 10pm on Sunday (June 29).

Police would like to trace a white man who was seen leaving the block of flats shortly after the explosion was heard.

At a press conference this morning investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie said: "Yesterday I had to do the hardest thing I have ever done in the police, which was to break the news and gruesome details of the injuries that the boys had received to the families.

"The cause of the deaths was multiple injuries to the head, neck, torso and back.

"Both appear to have been bound during this incident.

"The extent of the injuries is horrific.

"Everyone working on this case, including myself, is deeply shocked by what we have seen.

"I have never seen injuries like this throughout my career."

He added: "I would not say this was a professional attack. "I would say it was a frenzied, horrible, horrific attack."

DCI Duthie said police were trying to build up a picture of the two students and would like to hear from anyone who knew them or knows how they spent their time in London.

He said:"We can't find anything in these men's backgrounds to suggest any involvement in criminality or that they had done anything wrong."

The flat had been broken into six days before and a laptop had been stolen.

DCI Duthie said:"The flat was broken into some six days before and that is a line of inquiry we are looking into - was this a follow up burglary?

"But the level of violence used on these two victims is excessive and horrendous."

He added that the flat appeared to be secure when the fire brigade arrived and had to force their way in.

Police have asked residents of Sterling Gardens and visitors to the area to try to recall anything suspicious they may have seen on Sunday.

Anyone with information should call 020 8721 4155 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.


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Dave, Bromley says...
11:18am Thu 3 Jul 08

Does any one know the score with this sounds very odd?

anita, dartford says...
11:47am Thu 3 Jul 08

How strange. Another day in the life of London.

RIP to these young guys.

S.G., Lewisham, London says...
1:36pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Not exactly just another day in the life of London.

This is not a typical murder you usually hear abot. Odd indeed

sally, says...
2:03pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Horrific, but sadly not a surprise, this is the "Great" Britain we live in now! I was attacked by an immigrant this week while I was alone with my baby at 3pm! I cannot wait to get out this mess of a country! R.I.P Boys x

Harry Brown, Bromley says...
2:27pm Thu 3 Jul 08

sally wrote:
Horrific, but sadly not a surprise, this is the "Great" Britain we live in now! I was attacked by an immigrant this week while I was alone with my baby at 3pm! I cannot wait to get out this mess of a country! R.I.P Boys x
That's odd - I didn't know crooks were required to produce their passports or confirm their immigration status before committing crimes. Now I know. Or was it this person just looked or sounded a bit 'different' so they 'must' have been an immigrant?

Barry, Tooting says...
3:08pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Sally, surely these two were immigrants too? Perhaps they fell victim to a xenophobic News Shopper reader.

sally, says...
3:30pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Sorry, should have said Illegal immigrant- the police told me!

Harry Brown, Bromley says...
3:35pm Thu 3 Jul 08

sally wrote:
Sorry, should have said Illegal immigrant- the police told me!
That hardly makes it better. Maybe you didn't make a wild judgement about the person's appearance after all, but you did still choose to make the point that it was an immigrant who attacked you. Does it matter? Surely the fact you were attacked is bad enough on its own? Would the crime against you have been more acceptable if it was a good old British-born thug who did it?

sally, says...
3:52pm Thu 3 Jul 08

No, you are right. But it does annoy me when some people come to England for a better life but then go on to attack a defenceless woman with a 5month old baby, Im not saying all immigrants are like this but yes it angered me more that I was attacked by someone who was not legally in this country! I work with polish immigrants and have always found them to be polite and friendly, so im sorry if I offended you.

luv england not, says...
4:04pm Thu 3 Jul 08

MORE IMIGRANTS = MORE CRIME. FACT

max, Dartford says...
4:05pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Harry stop being a prat. Wake up to reality british people and immigrants commit crime fact!. A lot of immigrants are unemployed fact! a lot of these commit crime fact! Would it **** me off if I was robbed by an immigrant? yes it would because pound to a penny he would be illegally here and therefore if the laws were tighter i would not have been a victim fact! Switch on prat....fact!

Harry Brown, Bromley says...
4:20pm Thu 3 Jul 08

max wrote:
Harry stop being a prat. Wake up to reality british people and immigrants commit crime fact!. A lot of immigrants are unemployed fact! a lot of these commit crime fact! Would it **** me off if I was robbed by an immigrant? yes it would because pound to a penny he would be illegally here and therefore if the laws were tighter i would not have been a victim fact! Switch on prat....fact!
If prat means 'someone who is against xenophobia and racism' then I'll happily take that. Next time you're robbed I hope it's by someone born and bred in Britain so you can go home with a nice warm feeling in your tummy knowing you've been attacked by a homegrown thug. You'll probably be whistling Land of Hope and Glory to yourself as you go.

sunny england/london!!, says...
4:23pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Criminals are in every race, but you find more immigrants and people who DO NOT come from this country committing them.. Except they get more than us.. homes etc.. im fed up of all of em!!!!! not safe to walk out your front door anymore. its a joke. and it wont stop... because this country let them get away with toooooo much!

simon, says...
4:40pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Harry im sure it wont be long until you are set upon by these illegals you will have a diff opinion then. its the government who are making us racist. they get free homes whilst we have thousands of ENGLISH born ppl homeless, our kids educations are suffering because we just dont have the resources to deal with immigrants, are you really that blind??? surley you have witnessed that in just the last 5 years alone crime has rocketed strange isnt it?? there was not as many immigrants then. Gang culture has risen because these immigrants are used to violence and have the cheek to bring it all over here, most stabbings are commited by immigrants/not english fact! There should be a rule, you only allowed in this country if you work and are a good citizen, break it then your out!

hate england now, says...
4:45pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Harry Brown wrote:
max wrote:
Harry stop being a prat. Wake up to reality british people and immigrants commit crime fact!. A lot of immigrants are unemployed fact! a lot of these commit crime fact! Would it **** me off if I was robbed by an immigrant? yes it would because pound to a penny he would be illegally here and therefore if the laws were tighter i would not have been a victim fact! Switch on prat....fact!
If prat means 'someone who is against xenophobia and racism' then I'll happily take that. Next time you're robbed I hope it's by someone born and bred in Britain so you can go home with a nice warm feeling in your tummy knowing you've been attacked by a homegrown thug. You'll probably be whistling Land of Hope and Glory to yourself as you go.
na mate im a very big bloke not a woman with a baby! go figure

Mick, Walderslade says...
4:50pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Harry Brown wrote:
sally wrote: Sorry, should have said Illegal immigrant- the police told me!
That hardly makes it better. Maybe you didn\'t make a wild judgement about the person\'s appearance after all, but you did still choose to make the point that it was an immigrant who attacked you. Does it matter? Surely the fact you were attacked is bad enough on its own? Would the crime against you have been more acceptable if it was a good old British-born thug who did it?
Like the media always make the point of telling us when whites have attacked blacks, and how its a racially motivated crime (and more investigation will be given to it). Black on white just another crime.

GOD, UP ERE says...
4:59pm Thu 3 Jul 08

simon wrote:
Harry im sure it wont be long until you are set upon by these illegals you will have a diff opinion then. its the government who are making us racist. they get free homes whilst we have thousands of ENGLISH born ppl homeless, our kids educations are suffering because we just dont have the resources to deal with immigrants, are you really that blind??? surley you have witnessed that in just the last 5 years alone crime has rocketed strange isnt it?? there was not as many immigrants then. Gang culture has risen because these immigrants are used to violence and have the cheek to bring it all over here, most stabbings are commited by immigrants/not english fact! There should be a rule, you only allowed in this country if you work and are a good citizen, break it then your out!
What happens if you are english and commit a crime, where do you go then dimwit? Perhaps as you prefer to be a victim of a homegrown criminal, you could have him/her round for tea!!!! Think before you speak Gonzo!!!!!!

harry is brown, says...
5:02pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Operation Trident, says it all!

Gonzo haha, says...
5:04pm Thu 3 Jul 08

GOD wrote:
simon wrote:
Harry im sure it wont be long until you are set upon by these illegals you will have a diff opinion then. its the government who are making us racist. they get free homes whilst we have thousands of ENGLISH born ppl homeless, our kids educations are suffering because we just dont have the resources to deal with immigrants, are you really that blind??? surley you have witnessed that in just the last 5 years alone crime has rocketed strange isnt it?? there was not as many immigrants then. Gang culture has risen because these immigrants are used to violence and have the cheek to bring it all over here, most stabbings are commited by immigrants/not english fact! There should be a rule, you only allowed in this country if you work and are a good citizen, break it then your out!
What happens if you are english and commit a crime, where do you go then dimwit? Perhaps as you prefer to be a victim of a homegrown criminal, you could have him/her round for tea!!!! Think before you speak Gonzo!!!!!!
WELL NATIONAL SERVICE OF COURSE! i dont understand why we have decent brits fighting the war, should be all the English chavs! but immigrants are far worse, muppet

gertrude, says...
5:09pm Thu 3 Jul 08

if you are english and commit crime then you should be sent to jail to serve your time but the prisons are full of immigrants! so yeah get rid of them then that would free space for our wronguns, so obvious! what use are immigrants in jail? why are they not sent back instead of living luxury that taxpayers pay for! ive had enough! get them out! by the way "god" you lose your argument once you insult!

Me, Bromley says...
5:14pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Whilst on the subject regarding the racist media in theis country I noticed no-one has maybe mentioned a racial motive behind Ben Kinsella's death. Killed by 3 black youths and no hint of a racial motive on any news. I smell a cover up again!! What would we all be hearing if the shoe was on the other foot

GOD, UP ERE says...
5:14pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Gonzo haha wrote:
GOD wrote:
simon wrote: Harry im sure it wont be long until you are set upon by these illegals you will have a diff opinion then. its the government who are making us racist. they get free homes whilst we have thousands of ENGLISH born ppl homeless, our kids educations are suffering because we just dont have the resources to deal with immigrants, are you really that blind??? surley you have witnessed that in just the last 5 years alone crime has rocketed strange isnt it?? there was not as many immigrants then. Gang culture has risen because these immigrants are used to violence and have the cheek to bring it all over here, most stabbings are commited by immigrants/not english fact! There should be a rule, you only allowed in this country if you work and are a good citizen, break it then your out!
What happens if you are english and commit a crime, where do you go then dimwit? Perhaps as you prefer to be a victim of a homegrown criminal, you could have him/her round for tea!!!! Think before you speak Gonzo!!!!!!
WELL NATIONAL SERVICE OF COURSE! i dont understand why we have decent brits fighting the war, should be all the English chavs! but immigrants are far worse, muppet
Where do you dimlows get off on this National Service lark, Do they suddenly become good citizens? Check out friday and Saturday night crime stats in Colchester and Hereford and see what its all about. If you were a soldier would you want these scum alongside you?? I do wish you plums would engage your brain before you spout total crap!!!!! GONZO

Harry Brown, Bromley says...
5:24pm Thu 3 Jul 08

harry is brown wrote:
Operation Trident, says it all!
It says what exactly?

To all the racist, knuckle-dragging, slack-jawed morons on here, I have a challegne for you if you are up to it.

You think immigrants commit the majority of crimes? I say: Prove it. Come on here with hard, undisputable evidence to back up your ridiculous opinions. Not just spineless speculation but actual facts. Give me the actual crime figures to prove what you say is true. I'm not talking about the usual "you only have to look around" claptrap but real figures. While you're at it, why not also provide proof of the other nonsense you come out with about prisons being 'full' of immigrants and also immigrants getting special treatment over 'British' people.

When you can do that, I'll happily admit that you're right and I'm wrong.

Until any of you do it - which you won't because you can't - then I'll just dismiss you as being part of the (thankfully) tiny but vocal minority of idiots who still exist in this country.

Me, BEXLEY says...
5:51pm Thu 3 Jul 08

In the argument stakes Max, Harry P^$%%&£ all over you. And if Harry is the biggest, then unlucky on coming second, it was very close!!!!!

Me, `BExley says...
6:05pm Thu 3 Jul 08

STILL NO CRIME FIGURES AS PROOF THOUGH. 2-0 to HARRY

Marvolo, says...
6:53pm Thu 3 Jul 08

luv england not wrote:
MORE IMIGRANTS = MORE CRIME. FACT
Some immigrants do commit crime, that is a fact. But more don't so you might just as well say MORE IMMIGRANTS = MORE LAW ABIDING PEOPLE.

Equally, some indigenous folk are criminals..MORE BIRTHS = MORE CRIME. FACT (using your logic). The trick is to minimise the number of criminal immigrants by better checks on entry and rapid removal after offending. But don't forget the many thousands of hardworking, non-criminal immigrants..it hardly seems fair to lump all incomers together!

George, Eltham says...
7:47pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Harry Brown wrote:
harry is brown wrote: Operation Trident, says it all!
It says what exactly? To all the racist, knuckle-dragging, slack-jawed morons on here, I have a challegne for you if you are up to it. You think immigrants commit the majority of crimes? I say: Prove it. Come on here with hard, undisputable evidence to back up your ridiculous opinions. Not just spineless speculation but actual facts. Give me the actual crime figures to prove what you say is true. I'm not talking about the usual "you only have to look around" claptrap but real figures. While you're at it, why not also provide proof of the other nonsense you come out with about prisons being 'full' of immigrants and also immigrants getting special treatment over 'British' people. When you can do that, I'll happily admit that you're right and I'm wrong. Until any of you do it - which you won't because you can't - then I'll just dismiss you as being part of the (thankfully) tiny but vocal minority of idiots who still exist in this country.
Unfortunately the police stopped logging crimes (or at least thats what they say) by race etc many years ago... I wonder why ? embarrased by the glaring obvious I guess.

me, ???? says...
10:52pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Does anyone actually feel sorry for these 2 guys. What they went through was horrific and now their families have had to be told. I dont know how the police have coped with this as they have said it was horrific as well and they had to then tell the families, how horrible is that. Please stop and remember them.
RIP and condolences to the families and friends of these 2 guys.

here, there in this wicked world says...
11:36pm Thu 3 Jul 08

agreed, rip x

star63, france says...
5:00am Fri 4 Jul 08

you are all debating about immigrants, that's cute... but i'm not english, and those 2 victims were my friends ! so please show some respect and if you want to debate about politics, just do it somewhere else please !...

anon, new cross says...
7:50am Fri 4 Jul 08

forget all the political stuff, Im just horrified of frenzied, horrible, horrific attack these men were subject too. what makes it worse is that the people responsible are living in my local area and could be the man next door for all I know. I hope the police find them soon. As a mother I worry for my childrens future

Sunny, London says...
9:51am Fri 4 Jul 08

star63 wrote:
you are all debating about immigrants, that's cute... but i'm not english, and those 2 victims were my friends ! so please show some respect and if you want to debate about politics, just do it somewhere else please !...
Thank you for coming on line Star63 . It is so tragic, and more lives wasted. These men were very talented and were working on a project not like the types who come here to sponge off us tax payers.

RIP. Peace and love

Sunny x x x

Me, dartford says...
4:01pm Fri 4 Jul 08

simon wrote:
Harry im sure it wont be long until you are set upon by these illegals you will have a diff opinion then. its the government who are making us racist. they get free homes whilst we have thousands of ENGLISH born ppl homeless, our kids educations are suffering because we just dont have the resources to deal with immigrants, are you really that blind??? surley you have witnessed that in just the last 5 years alone crime has rocketed strange isnt it?? there was not as many immigrants then. Gang culture has risen because these immigrants are used to violence and have the cheek to bring it all over here, most stabbings are commited by immigrants/not english fact! There should be a rule, you only allowed in this country if you work and are a good citizen, break it then your out!
i totally agree with you its just a shame that we cant stand and be counted this is our country and we are and our families are the last in line and that is a fact

Dr R H Saxon, University of Linguistics and Culture says...
5:54pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Me wrote:
simon wrote: Harry im sure it wont be long until you are set upon by these illegals you will have a diff opinion then. its the government who are making us racist. they get free homes whilst we have thousands of ENGLISH born ppl homeless, our kids educations are suffering because we just dont have the resources to deal with immigrants, are you really that blind??? surley you have witnessed that in just the last 5 years alone crime has rocketed strange isnt it?? there was not as many immigrants then. Gang culture has risen because these immigrants are used to violence and have the cheek to bring it all over here, most stabbings are commited by immigrants/not english fact! There should be a rule, you only allowed in this country if you work and are a good citizen, break it then your out!
i totally agree with you its just a shame that we cant stand and be counted this is our country and we are and our families are the last in line and that is a fact
Me, you talk crap, who says you cant stand and be counted, of course you can, but what does this entail, do you mean go out and victimise all non white people whether they have committed crimes or not, and what if you come across an indigenous criminal? Is that ok? You are racists plain and simple.Crime overall has decreased by some margin, it is only violent crime that has increased, yes there is a problem but blatant bigotry is not the answer.

James, London says...
7:08pm Mon 7 Jul 08

Here are some stats that i have found. In 2004-05, there were 78 fatal shootings in England and Wales. Of these, 40 of the victims were white, 25 black, seven Asian. The figures do not record the ethnicity of the killers but, by and large, murderers tend mostly to target members of their own ethnic group.

In 2005-06, there were 50 fatal shootings. Eighteen victims were white, 19 black and four Asian. That same year, 351 black people were injured by guns. For whites, injuries totalled 2,952.

The statistics confirm that the problem of gun crime is not unique to the black community, but they provide stark evidence that the black community is over-represented to a frightening degree. According to the 2001 Home Office census, Britain's black community makes up just 2 per cent of the total population. Yet each year around a third of all shooting victims are black. About one in 10 victims are of Asian origin, a population that makes up just 4 per cent of Britain's total.


Matt, bromley says...
7:43am Tue 8 Jul 08

I'm moving to Spain next month. Going to leave all the immigrants to fight it out themselves. Anyone coming???

Boring, London says...
12:27pm Tue 8 Jul 08

Me wrote:
Whilst on the subject regarding the racist media in theis country I noticed no-one has maybe mentioned a racial motive behind Ben Kinsella's death. Killed by 3 black youths and no hint of a racial motive on any news. I smell a cover up again!! What would we all be hearing if the shoe was on the other foot
Note that Sian Simpson was a black girl killed by a white girl. Nothing stated anywhere that the killing was to do with race.

You see? There is no need to label something a racist crime if it isn't one. And people always go on about how people of colour use the race card!! Blimey, they haven't met you, eh?

This story is about two men killed by a white man, and of course immigration and skin colour has managed to be brought into it.

Sad.

Even if an immigrant or person of skin colour hasn't even committed the crime they are still vilified. I note there are no comments about the depravity of this crime, committed by a white man.

Matt says: I'm moving to Spain next month. Going to leave all the immigrants to fight it out themselves. Anyone coming???

No Matt, no one is coming with you given your comments around this site. But don't forget, you will soon be an immigrant too, so when people tar you with the same brush as other immigrants, We don't expect to hear a peep out of you.

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Gabriel Ferez's body was found at the flat fire Student Laurent Bonomo's stabbed body was found at the scene

Gabriel Ferez's body was found at the flat fire

Fellow student Laurent Bonomo's stabbed body was also found at the scene



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