More time to quiz murder suspect

The two students were stabbed repeatedly and set alight

Police have been granted a further 36 hours to question a suspect arrested over the murder of two French exchange students killed in south-east London.

The 33-year-old man has been questioned since leaving hospital earlier where he had been treated for burns injuries.

Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, were stabbed and burnt in an attack at a rented bedsit in New Cross, south-east London, on 29 June.

They were found in the property, which had been set alight after the murders.

'Silent march'

Their bodies were found with a total of more than 240 stab wounds.

Both men were biochemistry students and were in the third year of masters degrees at Polytech Clermont-Ferrand in central France.

They were in London for a research project at Imperial College and were due to return home soon.

Scotland Yard said a warrant of further detention of the suspect was obtained by detectives at Greenwich Magistrates' Court.

On Monday, students and staff from the French institute held a "silent march" as a mark of respect for the two men.

Detectives believe their bank cards and two Sony PSP games consoles were taken on the day the pair were killed.

A 21-year-old man arrested on Saturday was released without charge.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the appeal for witnesses and information "remained active".

"We would reiterate that we do not know how many suspects may be involved and no-one is charged with this offence," he said.

Inquests into the deaths of Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez were opened and adjourned on Tuesday.