Canal body parts woman is named

The woman is thought to have been dead for at least two days

A young Somalian woman has been named as the murder victim whose torso was stuffed into a suitcase and thrown into a canal in north London.

Nasra Ismail, 27, is thought to have spent two months at the Dennis Handfield House hostel in King's Cross but went missing a month ago.

Other body parts were found by divers on Wednesday, four days after the suitcase was found in Regents Canal.

Police are questioning a 53-year-old man from Dorset as part of the inquiry.

A post-mortem examination could not established the exact cause of Miss Ismail's death, but she is thought to have been dead at least two days before she was found.

The 39 residents at the Dennis Handfield hostel, who include people referred by health agencies and rough sleepers, were said to be "very distraught" at the news.

Police searched three homes in Highbury and Holloway on Tuesday and believe they have found the spot where the body was dismembered.

The teenagers who found the suitcase in the canal in Islington and their families have been offered police support.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned at St Pancras Coroners Court.