Manhunt after 'Tarantino-style' murder of students

Detectives launched a huge manhunt today after the "Tarantino-style" murder of two French students in London.

Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23, were tied up, gagged and stabbed more than 200 times. The flat in New Cross where their bodies were found was then firebombed in an attempt to hide the evidence.

They were so badly charred police had to use DNA to identify them. Scotland Yard detectives described the double murder as the worst they had seen in recent years.

One said: "The scale of the violence is extraordinary. This was like a scene from a Tarantino gangster film but these men were not criminals. These were talented and innocent young men who had no history of criminality."

American director Quentin Tarantino is known for his extremely brutal scenes in movies such as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.

The two close friends, described as the brightest of their generation, had been in London for only two months and were studying biochemistry at Imperial College in Kensington. They had been due to return home this month.

The bodies were found by fire crews called to the one-bedroom flat in Sterling Gardens - part of a modern, red-brick block in the quiet cul-de-sac - on Sunday at 10.10pm.

Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez were found tied up in the living room. At first it was thought they had died in the fire but a post-mortem examination found they had been stabbed in the head, neck, back and chest. There was also evidence of other injuries. Mr Bonomo, who rented the flat, had been stabbed 196 times and more than 100 of the wounds were inflicted after he had died. His friend received more than 50 injuries.

The scene was described as "extremely complex". There was no sign of forced entry to the flat. Forensic science officers are still examining it.

The students had been in the property in the early hours of Sunday when Mr Bonomo called his girlfriend in France. The couple had been due to marry this year.

Mr Ferez, who rented a flat in Thornton Heath, had been staying with his friend. At one point they are known to have played a computer game together.

Their names were released today. The pair were described as "two of the brightest students of their generation". Mr Bonomo was from Velaux in Provence, Mr Ferez from Prouzel in Picardie.

Police appealed for help in identifying a white man seen running from the block of flats after the explosion. Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie, leading the inquiry, said: "The extent of the injuries was horrific. Everyone working on this case, including me, have been deeply shocked. We have never witnessed anything like this before."

He said detectives were struggling to establish a motive. Both men were from good families and had never been in trouble with the police: "I would not say this was a professional attack, I would say it was a frenzied, horrible, horrific attack.

"I imagine it would take some considerable amount of time to inflict the nature of the injuries."

Mr Duthie revealed that six days before the bodies were found, the flat had been broken into and a laptop belonging to Mr Bonomo had been stolen. The possibility that the thief had returned was one line of inquiry, he said. Another possible theory was that the two men were victims of mistaken identity.

Detectives appealed for anyone who was in Sterling Gardens on Sunday, the day of the Euro 2008 final, to contact them. Police also believe there may have been more than one killer, and said any perpetrators would have been bloodstained.

Officers are also making inquiries among the victims' friends at Imperial.

Neighbours spoke of hearing a loud bang at about 10pm on Sunday. Rupak Shrestha, who lives in the next building, said: "It was an incredibly loud noise. There was smoke everywhere."

There were also reports of a man "speeding off in a BMW" shortly after the blast. Most of the building has been evacuated as investigation continues.

Sir Roy Anderson, Rector of Imperial College, expressed his shock and sadness at the news. "Our immediate thoughts are with their families," he said. "Laurent and Gabriel had bright futures ahead of them and it is dreadful that their lives should end so soon.

"I would also like to offer my support to the Imperial community as we mourn the loss of two young members."

The pair were on Imperial's research opportunities programme. They had been specialising in the study of DNA at the life sciences department.

Anyone with information should contact the police incident room on 020 8721 4155 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.