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Manhunt after mother and daughter stabbed to death in London home

Police urged members of the public not to approach Joshua Cohen, 27

Lizzie Dearden
Home Affairs Correspondent
Saturday 12 August 2017 12:15 BST
Police are searching for 27-year-old Joshua Cohen after two women were stabbed to death in London
Police are searching for 27-year-old Joshua Cohen after two women were stabbed to death in London (Metropolitan Police)

Police are searching for a 27-year-old man after a mother and daughter were stabbed to death at their home in London.

Officers were called to the house in Golders Green on Friday night to reports of two injured women and found the victims, aged 33 and 66, suffering from stab wounds.

“Both women were pronounced dead at the scene,” a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said.

The women were killed at their home in Golders Green Crescent, London (Google Streetview)

“While we await formal identification, officers are confident that they know the identity of the victims and that they are mother and daughter.”

No arrests have been made and investigators are appealing to trace a suspect, Joshua Cohen, who was known to the victims.

Detective Inspector Ian Lott said: “This was a devastating attack on two women in their homes.

“The individual we are seeking was known to them and from all the information we have, acted alone.

“I would urge anyone who saw anything in the local area at the time of the attack to get in touch with investigators immediately.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Rose assured the local community that police were doing everything they could to find the perpetrator of the “horrific attack”.

“High visibility foot patrols have been stepped up in the area and police will be on hand to listen and respond to community concerns,” he added, saying officers were working with Jewish charity the Community Security Trust.

​Cohen, 27, is wanted for questioning and police said he should not be approached.

“He has mental health issues including paranoid schizophrenia and should not be approached by members of the public,” a spokesperson for Scotland Yard said.

“Any sightings of Joshua Cohen should be reported to police immediately via 999.”

He is described as 5ft 9ins tall, white with cropped hair and a short beard or stubble.

He was last seen wearing a red Nike hooded sweatshirt with a white logo on the chest, white trainers and dark grey trousers or tracksuit bottoms.

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