VIDEO: CCTV shows tragic Greenstead murder victim Nahid Al-Manea walking to university just 20 minutes before she was found fatally wounded (From Gazette)

Murdered Saudi student Nahid Al-Manea was stabbed 16 times in Greenstead, Colchester

9:01am Thursday 19th June 2014 in News

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TRAGIC Nahid Al-Manea was stabbed 16 times, detectives have revealed. 

The student, 31, of Woodrow Way, Colchester, was found fatally wounded at about 10.40am on Tuesday.

Two of her wounds among the 16 were fatal, it has been revealed. 

New CCTV shows Nahid walking past Hunwicke Road shops, in Greenstead, at about 10.20am.

A 52-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and will remain in custody overnight.

The Essex University student was brutally murdered in a frenzied knife attack strikingly similar to the murder of James Attfield.

Detectives are investigating whether the two are connected.

Police are also investigating threats made by those calling for revenge attacks on social media.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Det Supt Steve Worron said: "It is extremely unusual to see an attack of this type in a public place in daylight."

Extra police patrols will continue to run across Colchester.

It is not known if more than one person was involved in the student's murder or if more than one weapon was used. 

Detectives are also looking into whether this may be a race hate crime as the victim, Saudi Arabian student Nahid Al-Manea, was wearing traditional Islamic dress when she was stabbed to death.

Det Supt Tracy Hawkings, head of major crime for Essex Police, said: “She was stabbed a number of times. We don’t know how many but two wounds were significant.

“She had a number of facial injuries consistent with being struck in the face or the back of the head.

“There are significant similarities between both crimes.

“Both victims sustained frenzied knife wounds.

“Both were on secluded paths in parks used by members of the public.

“But there are differences such as gender and we can’t discount the possibility of hate crime.

“We are doing everything we can to solve them.”

A 52-year-old man was arrested in connection with the murder of the woman, aged in her thirties from Woodrow Way, Greenstead, Colchester.

He continues to be questioned at Colchester police station.

Results of the post mortem are expected today.

The victim moved to England in January and was living with her brother.

She was studying an English language course at Essex University.

A spokesman for the university said: "It is with great shock and deep sadness our close community receives the news of the tragic death of our student Nahid Al-Manea.

"Nahid came to the university from Saudi Arabia to study on the Essex English Language Programme at the International Academy, and was due to finish her studies in August.

"Our thoughts are now with Nahid’s family, friends and teachers during this extremely difficult time.

"The university continues to help police with their enquiries.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster added: “On behalf of the entire university community, I express our deepest condolences to Nahid’s family and friends following this devastating loss."

We have students and staff here from over 130 countries and are proud of our genuinely global community.

"We are committed to ensuring that all our students and staff are being fully supported by the university.”

Richard Barnard, the head of the International Academy, said: "Nahid was a student on the Essex English Language Programme, which develops students’ English language skills.

"Nahid joined this programme and was a very hard-working and conscientious student, who was making excellent progress.

"She was a quiet, considerate and well-respected member of the programme and had ambitions to move on to further academic study.

"She will be greatly missed by her teachers and her fellow students.”

She left home at 10am on Tuesday and was found by a member of the public at 10.40am still breathing but close to death.

She died very soon after and was pronounced dead by paramedics when they arrived at the Salary Brook nature path behind Britten Close.

Det Supt Hawkings said: “This crime was committed on a busy thoroughfare where you would expect a number of people to be walking.

“It was a brazen, reckless attack and there is a high likelihood people were there or there about at the time.”

She dismissed rumours of a possible honour killing. 

Residents have been told to be vigilant and take extra care following the latest brutal murder in Colchester.

Det Supt Hawkings said: “We are well aware residents must be very nervous following these horrific murders.

“There has been a significant increase in police presence.

“Patrols have increased with every available officer helping.

“But I would urge people to be sensible.

“Try not to go to places where you may be vulnerable.”

She said she doesn’t want people to panic but said people should be aware there have been brutal attacks and to try and stay safe with advice available on the Essex Police website.

Detectives investigating the murder still need information and Det Supt Hawkings wants people to call.

They are searching for the murder weapon and bloodied clothes after the victim was left with multiple stab wounds.

Det Supt Hawkings said: “We have received a number of calls from members of the public but I would ask anyone walking in Salary Brook between 8.30am and 11am to get in contact.

“I am asking all the residents of Greenstead to search bins and gardens for knives.

“Anyone with private CCTV get in contact.”

She dismissed rumours this could have been a so called honour killing saying there was “absolutely nothing to suggest there is any truth in this” but thanked everyone who had already made contact.

She said: “We are starting to get a significant number of calls coming in.

“We need to hear from everybody and anybody.”

Police cordons remain in place with officers speaking to those who usually walk along the path.

Family liaison officers are comforting the brother while a separate murder squad works alongside those investigating the James Attfield murder.

Anyone with any information that could assist the enquiry is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team on 01245 282103, Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.