Murder probe launched after knife arrest

Updated 07.31 Fri May 09 2008

A murder investigation is under way after a woman was found dead when police arrested a man for possession of a knife and saw blood on it.

Officers arrested a man for possession of a bladed article at Finchley Central Tube station car park in the early hours and then noticed blood on the blade and on his clothing.

Officers arrested a man for possession of a bladed article at Finchley Central Tube station car park in the early hours and then noticed blood on the blade and on his clothing

He was taken to a north-west London police station for questioning and as a result of further inquiries officers attended an address in nearby Station Road, N3.

They forced entry to the premises and discovered the body of a woman aged around 50.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said London Ambulance Service attended and pronounced the woman dead at the scene.

She added: "We await to inform next of kin and for formal identification to take place. A post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course."

The man, who is in his 20s, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.

Local cordons are in place near the property where the woman's body was discovered and Finchley Central station is closed due to the police investigation.