Man, 31, is arrested over the murder of missing barmaid whose body was found in Finsbury Park

  • Detectives investigating the death of Iuliana Tudos have arrested a 31-year-old 
  • Murder probe was launched after her body was found by a member of the public
  • The 22-year-old was found in a disused building located in Finsbury Park

 Kasim Lewis has been charged with the murder of barmaid Luliana Tudos (pictured)

Detectives investigating the death of Iuliana Tudos, pictured, in Finsbury Park took the 31-year-old into custody at 1.30pm today at an address in Dalston

A man has been arrested over the murder of a missing barmaid whose body was found in Finsbury Park just days after Christmas.

Detectives investigating the death of Iuliana Tudos in Finsbury Park took the 31-year-old into custody at 1.30pm today at an address in Dalston.

The man has been taken to a south-west London police station where he remains under arrest.

A murder investigation, led by DCI Nicola Wall, was launched after Iuliana's body was found by a member of the public at 16:25hrs on Wednesday, 27 December. 

Ms Tudos, 22, who police said was of Russian and Greek origin, was last seen by friends at around 8pm on Christmas Eve when she headed for a bus home from Camden.

She was due to meet them at another friend's home in Enfield, north London, later that evening before spending Christmas Day there, but never arrived.

Police said CCTV footage showed her on the periphery of the park shortly after 8.20pm.

Her body was found three days later in a disused building located in the north eastern area of the park.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the abdomen and a head injury.

Haringey Borough Commander Detective Chief Superintendent Des Fahy said that extra officers had been deployed for reassurance and that his officers had been engaging with local residents, community groups and traders.

The body of the 22-year-old, who was also known as Julia and Lili (short for Lilith), was found in a disused building located in the north eastern area of the park. Iuliana lived in Upper Tollington Park, Haringey

A murder investigation, led by DCI Nicola Wall, was launched after Iuliana's body was found by a member of the public at 16:25hrs on Wednesday, 27 December

A murder investigation, led by DCI Nicola Wall, was launched after Iuliana's body was found by a member of the public at 16:25hrs on Wednesday, 27 December

He said: 'We understand that the local community might have concerns, but I want to reassure people that incidents of this nature are incredibly rare.

'We have police out and about on patrol and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been out speaking to members of the community.

'By all accounts, Iuliana was a bubbly lively girl enjoying a fun life in London when she was tragically taken from her loved ones. Our hearts go out to them. '

Anyone with information is asked to call the dedicated incident room on 020 8785 8244, tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Iuliana's devastated aunt Aliona Tudos, 43, from the Moldovan capital Chisinau, kept in close touch with the barmaid and said she did not have a boyfriend and 'no enemies'.

A woman looks at messages and flowers left in tribute to Iuliana Tudos

A woman looks at messages and flowers left in tribute to Iuliana Tudos

Passersby stop to read messages and flowers left in tribute to murdered Iuliana Tudos, who was found in a north London park in Finsbury Park 

Passersby stop to read messages and flowers left in tribute to murdered Iuliana Tudos, who was found in a north London park in Finsbury Park 

It comes as a friend revealed that she had only recently started using a new shortcut through Finsbury Park to get home, despite usually avoiding the area at night.

There have been claims that a homeless man living in a tent in the park may be able to provide further information after police were seen investigating a campsite.  

A forensic team examined the tent and a purple suitcase found inside as detectives attempt to 'piece together a timeline'. Divers also searched a river next to the tent.

The Russian barmaid's body was found in an outbuilding just 500 yards from her front door.

One of Miss Tudos's neighbours said he often saw her walk through the park to get home.

Specialist officers are forensically examining a tent and a purple suitcase found inside around 100 yards away with specialist divers searching the river next to it in Finsbury Park

Specialist officers are forensically examining a tent and a purple suitcase found inside around 100 yards away with specialist divers searching the river next to it in Finsbury Park

'We all walk through the park a lot so for this to happen so close is very scary,' he said. 'It's so sad, she was so young.'

However her best friend Krystyna Rymarczyk said Ms Tudos had only recently started using the park as a shortcut, as she was afraid to walk through it at night.

She told the Sunday Express: 'I know she used to avoid going through Finsbury Park when it was dark, but on the last three or four occasions she had started using it as a shortcut home.

'There were always people about, especially around 8pm, so maybe she felt more confident using it.'

A crowdfunding page has been launched to pay for Iuliana's funeral and loved-ones have rushed to give tributes to the popular bar worker, who was also known as Julie or Juliana.

The Metropolitan Police said: 'Iuliana's body was discovered in an outbuilding next to a sports pitch'
Miss Tudos

Fears grew after Miss Tudos, who is from Moscow, failed to show up for work at 4pm on Boxing Day at the World's End pub in Camden - she lay undiscovered in a park for three days

The World's End pub in Camden, north London where Ms Tudos worked as a barmaid 

The World's End pub in Camden, north London where Ms Tudos worked as a barmaid 

Eleni Sakka, from Nicosia, Cyprus, posted a photo of herself with the murder victim and said: 'Rest in peace my angel. Goodbye my Angel. Goodbye my one and only true best friend'.

Miss Tudos worked at the famous World's End pub in Camden and was beloved by colleagues and regulars.

On Facebook she described herself as: 'Miss Sass. Sarcasm & profanity. Cynicism. Geek. Lone wolf. Camden punk' and said she was a 'happy slave' at the club and pub.

Miss Tudos, who was 5ft 1in tall, was last seen at 8pm on Christmas Eve getting on a bus from Camden to Finsbury Park and may have decided to take the 13-minute short cut from her local bus stop through the park in the dark when she was attacked. 

Fears grew after Miss Tudos, who is from Moscow, failed to show up for work at 4pm on Boxing Day at the World's End pub in Camden.

When her landlord opened her locked bedroom in a shared house, her passport and all her belongings were found untouched. 

Friends criticised police saying officers only treated her disappearance as 'medium risk' when she was first reported missing, despite it being out of character. 

But officers contended that the report was taken very seriously from the outset. 

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