Hendon: Woman Found Dead in Suitcase at North London Sports Ground

Police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a woman was found in a suitcase at a sports ground in north west London.

Metropolitan Police discovered the woman, who has not yet been identified, locked inside a suitcase on Thornfield Avenue, Hendon.

A cause of death has not yet been determined, but police are treating it as a murder.

A cordon remains in place in the area where the body was found.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Homicide and Serious Crime Command are investigating. No one has been arrested in connection with the murder.

A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

Local residents reported seeing police dogs around 15 forensic officers searching the area.

Joanie Adler, 30, who lives next door to the field where the body was found, said she had been told by police they were investigating "something sinister".

She told This is Local London: "Police came down about 3pm yesterday and cordoned off a large area all up the brook and down to the allotments behind my house.

"There were two police cars, two vans and a couple of unmarked cars. They told me they were looking for a needle in a haystack, but it seems they found something."

Det chief sup Adrian Usher, Borough Commander for Barnet said: "The discovery of the body of a young woman on Sunday 21 July hidden in a suitcase is a tragic and shocking thing to happen, I am sure local people will be feeling unsettled by this news.

"Crimes of this serious nature are incredibly rare in our Borough, which may only add to local concern over what has happened. I would like to reassure the local community that we are working closely with specialist homicide teams to establish the full circumstances surrounding this murder.

"I know that the investigation will be thorough, professional and the team will pursue every line of enquiry to track down whoever is responsible. Local people can help that investigation by providing the police with any information, no matter how small.

"As detectives continue with their enquiries, local officers will continue to have a visible presence in the area and my officers will do everything possible to support the murder investigation during this difficult time."