Sabina Nessa: 38-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder as police issue CCTV appeal
Suspect held in southeast London is in custody
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A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of teacher Sabina Nessa.
He was arrested at an address in Lewisham, southeast London, and remains in custody, the Metropolitan Police say.
Ms Nessa, 28, was killed on Friday evening during a short walk through Cator Park, Greenwich, from her home to meet a friend at a pub in Kidbrooke.
The force has also released CCTV footage and images of a man they want to speak to, which show him walking in nearby Pegler Square on the evening Ms Nessa was attacked.
And detectives have issued an image of a silver vehicle captured in the area which detectives believe the man has access to, and urged anyone who recognises him or the vehicle to contact them immediately.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe urged anyone who may know the man to contact them, as she gave an update on the investigation.
Speaking outside the force’s New Scotland Yard headquarters on Friday, she said: “Anybody out there who may know who he is, or if you’ve seen that footage, and you have any information, no matter how small, please do get in touch.
“This is an incredibly shocking and tragic incident. We’re working incredibly hard to secure justice for Sabina’s family who are at the forefront of our mind at the moment.”
Ms Rolfe declined to comment on a cause of death, telling reporters: “We’re not discussing all the details of what we know, but, of course, we’re working incredibly hard to establish exactly what’s happened here.
“There will be lines of inquiry that we can share and those that we can’t, it’s really important that we maintain an open mind and do everything we can.”
Asked about reports claiming Ms Nessa was attacked outside of her home with a hammer before being carried into the park and that she was meeting someone for a date prior to the attack, she added: “As I said, we’re maintaining an open mind. We don’t have information to confirm that at the moment.”
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, from the Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime command, has urged the public, particularly those in Kidbrooke and the wider area of Lewisham and Greenwich, to take a careful look at the CCTV images to check whether they recognise the man.
“Any information as to his identity or whereabouts could be vital for our investigation so we are asking you to share this image far and wide to ensure as many people as possible see it,” he said.
Earlier Met detectives said they were investigating whether the attack was carried out by a stranger and were “keeping a completely open mind” on the killer’s motive.
One of the organisers of a vigil in her memory said women did not feel safe on the streets of London.
This is the second arrest the Metropolitan Police have made over the killing.
On Saturday, detectives arrested a man in his forties on suspicion of murder. He was released under further investigation.
Ms Rolfe said she did not believe the two men arrested in connection with the murder - one who remains in custody and one who has been released - are known to each other.
Ms Nessa’s cousin, Zubel Ahmed, says her parents are “inconsolable”.
He told the BBC: “We are all truly devastated. Her parents are absolutely shocked, they’re inconsolable still and understandably so, to hear of their daughter being taken away from them by some cowardly man is just horrific.
“She honestly was the most caring person, kindest, sweetest girl you could meet. Sabina’s heart was as good as gold, she never had a bad word to say about anyone. Her sister is going to miss her so much.”