BRITAIN:British detectives continued to question two men last night on suspicion of murdering five prostitutes whose naked bodies were found near Ipswich.
Forensic teams spent yesterday examining the homes of the two men - named unofficially as Tom Stephens (37), of Trimley St Martin, Suffolk, and Steve Wright (48), of Ipswich - as more than 500 officers continued to work on the investigation.
Detectives can question Mr Stephens until tomorrow and question Mr Wright until Saturday under the terms of legislation covering the way police must deal with suspects.
They could opt to release either or both on bail, then resume questioning at a later date. Mr Stephens was arrested at his home early on Monday and Mr Wright at his home early on Tuesday.
Police have not said whether they have established any links between the two. Officers of more than 31 forces are involved in the inquiry - one of the biggest seen in the UK. They are analysing more than 10,000 pieces of information provided after public appeals, and checking more than 10,000 hours of CCTV footage seized in and around Ipswich.
Sources said Mr Stephens, who worked at a Tesco store near Ipswich, was a former Norfolk special constable and taxi driver.
Mr Wright, who ran a pub in Norwich in the late 1980s, worked as a forklift truck driver until a few weeks ago. In recent weeks, he is thought to have been working in a factory.
The five women were found dead near villages south of Ipswich, during a 10-day period earlier this month. Gemma Adams (25) was found in a stream at Hintlesham on December 2nd. Tania Nicol (19) was found in the same stream at Copdock on December 8th. Anneli Alderton (24) was found in woods at Nacton on December 10th; Paula Clennell (24) and Annette Nicholls (29) were found in woods at Levington on December 12th. All five worked as prostitutes in Ipswich.
Police said they were all found naked but had not been seriously sexually assaulted.
Ms Alderton had been strangled. Ms Clennell died after "compression" to the neck.
Police have not said how the others died, and toxicology tests are being analysed. Inquests on all five women have been opened by a coroner and adjourned until a later date.