NEIGHBOURS heard “loud bangs” before a 19-year-old female student was found seriously injured inside a London University halls.
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene at Arbour House on Sebastian Street, Clerkenwell, London shortly after 5am this morning.
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Police were hunting for the suspect today as forensic checks were carried out at the murder scene.
The murdered girl is understood to be a student at nearby City University of London.
Neighbours said they woke after a fire alarm was set off just half an hour before police were called.
Students living below where the girl lived on the fifth floor of the private student accommodation said they heard loud banging hours before she was found dead.
Cops said the teenager was found suffering “serious injuries” at the flat in Sebastian Street, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Around 180 other students live in the six-storey Arbour House student halls, which is next door to the City of London University.
Other students left flowers at the doorway to the halls, and paid tribute to the young girl.
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Owen Newby, 18, a first-year investment finance and Dominique Hodgett, 19, had been sleeping when they heard loud banging around 3am on the floor above.
Owen told The Sun: “We heard a few loud bangs, it sounded like someone stamping on the floor, and then we heard people running around.
“Then a few hours later we were all woken up when the fire alarm went off, and it wasn’t until we saw police this morning we realised something must have happened.
“It didn’t sound like a lot of people, I’ve been told she might have been followed home.
“It wasn’t like it was a party and we could hear music, it was just a quiet night.
“We assumed it was just a neighbour and maybe someone drunk who had come home.”
‘LOUD NOISES AND BANGING’
Dominique, also an investment finance student at City of London University, said: “It’s terrifying, anyone with a fob can get into the block of flats, we don’t know what really happened.
“We heard the loud noises and banging but there wasn’t any screaming, so we didn’t think much of it.
“We didn’t know the girl, but I think she was living alone.
“It is a mix of flats, with students from all over.
“They have shared kitchens in some of them, but others are studio flats.
“I’m not sure where she lived, we’ve never been up to the flat above.”
She added: “It’s incredibly sad, and just not what anyone ever expects to hear, it’s the worst kind of news and I can’t stop thinking about her friends.
“As a young woman when you hear something like this has happened to another student it makes you scared to sleep at night.
“I won’t be staying here tonight, I don’t think I could sleep at all knowing what had happened in the flat above.”
Another student, who lives in the block of flats, said she didn’t hear anything last night, but paid tribute to the young girl.
She said: “You can’t believe anything like this could ever happen where you live, it’s incredibly scary.
“It makes you scared to be here. I can’t stop thinking about her friends and family.”
Some students said her killer was believed to be a 25-30 year old male.
Cops are still hunting for her attacker, and police said enquiries are under way to identify and inform her next of kin.
A post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course.
A Unite Students spokesperson said: “As this remains an on-going police incident, we are unable to comment on their investigation.
“Our priority at this time is the safety and wellbeing of students at Arbour House. We are working closely with the police and City, University of London.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call the incident room on 020 8358 1010. Alternatively, call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD1252/19March.
“You can also provide information anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
