Colchester knife murders 'could be connected', say detectives

Nahid Almanea was studying English at the University of Essex (PA)

Police investigating the murder of a Saudi Arabian student in Colchester are working in “parallel” with officers working on the horrific fatal stabbing of a homeless man in the town, Essex Police said yesterday.

After the death of Nahid Almanea, 31, who was stabbed 16 times on a footpath last Tuesday, police said she may have been targeted because she was wearing a hijab.

However, police are also looking into the possibility of a connection between her murder and the death of James Attfield, 33, who was stabbed 102 times in what police described as a “senseless and frenzied” attack two months ago.

Detective chief superintendent Steve Worron said yesterday the cases “remain separate but parallel investigations at this time”. “However, the circumstances of both crimes mean that we must consider the possibility that the same killer or killers are responsible,” he added.

A 19-year-old man arrested in connection with Ms Almanea’s murder was released yesterday.