Manhunt as teenager killed in Clerkenwell student flats
Met Police name victim as 19-year-old Sabita Thanwani
Last updated 20th Mar 2022
The 19-year-old woman killed in her student accommodation in central London has been identified by the Metropolitan Police.
Sabita Thanwani, a British national, was found with neck injuries early on Saturday morning.
Officers were called to Arbour House on Sebastian Street, Clerkenwell, at around 5.10am on Saturday to reports of a woman suffering serious injuries.
Police and medics attended but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Scotland Yard are looking for 22-year-old Maher Maaroufe in connection with her death - they believe he was in a relationship with the victim, and that the pair were together on the evening she died.
They say the Tunisian national is known to travel and to have links across London, particularly the Marble Arch, Edgware Road, and Lewisham areas. He also travels to Cambridgeshire. He has no fixed address.
DCI Linda Bradley, from the specialist crime team, said: “One of the images we released shows Maaroufe with dark hair and a moustache and beard. He has now shaved his head, and has little facial hair."
Anyone who sees Maaroufe is asked not to approach him but to call 999 immediately.
'Tragic death'
Speaking to reporters at Islington Police Station on Saturday, Chief Inspector Adam Instone said: "Metropolitan Police today has launched a murder investigation following the tragic death of a young woman in Clerkenwell.
"Police officers were called to Arbour House in Sebastian Street at around 5.10am on Saturday morning.
"Despite the efforts of police officers and ambulance colleagues, a 19-year-old woman was very sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
"We are working to ensure the woman's family have been informed of this tragic news and they will be supported by the Met in the unimaginably difficult days and months ahead.
"Arbour House is a student accommodation and I know there will be great sadness and deep concern among the local people and the student community.
"I share that sadness and concern and I can assure them that a thorough homicide investigation is under way, led by skilled and experienced detectives who will work tirelessly to identify and arrest whoever is responsible.
"Tackling violent crime is the Met's top priority.
"Police officers, including forensic specialists, remain at the scene. Local people will also see additional police in the area.
"If you have any concerns about safety in and around the Clerkenwell area, please speak with those officers."
'I feel so scared'
Angelina Miats, 19, from Belarus, a business management student at City University of London who lives in the same building, was woken up at around 8:30am when police knocked on her door.
She said: "I feel so scared, I don't know what to expect because I thought that I was safe in the building, but it turns out I'm not."
Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt has been finding out more details about the victim:
"She had a room in a ten-room flat. She was somebody who other students have described as a student who hadn't been here very long and hadn't really mixed a great deal with her fellow students."
Safety and wellbeing of students
Arbour House is run by Unite Students, which provides purpose-built student accommodation across the UK.
A City, University of London spokesman said: "As this is an ongoing police incident, we are unable to comment on their investigation.
"As a university, we will do everything we can to support our students and staff and we will continue to fully support the police with their investigation.
"We are working closely with Unite Students, who own and operate Arbour House."
A Unite Students spokesman added: "Our priority at this time is the safety and wellbeing of students at Arbour House."
Any witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact police on the 101 number.
Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.