Man, 31, is arrested over the murder of Iuliana Tudos

A man has been arrested over the murder of a missing barmaid whose body was found in Finsbury Park just days after Christmas.

Detectives investigating the death of Iuliana Tudos in Finsbury Park took the 31-year-old into custody at 1.30pm today at an address in Dalston.

The man has been taken to a south-west London police station where he remains under arrest.

A murder investigation, led by DCI Nicola Wall, was launched after Iuliana’s body was found by a member of the public at 16:25hrs on Wednesday, 27 December.

The body of the 22-year-old, who was also known as Julia and Lili (short for Lilith), was found in a disused building located in the north eastern area of the park. Iuliana lived in Upper Tollington Park, Haringey.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and Iuliana was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin, who are currently living abroad, have been informed.

A post-mortem examination took place at Haringey Mortuary on Thursday, 28 December, and gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the abdomen and a head injury. Further tests are ongoing.

Haringey Borough Commander Detective Chief Superintendent Des Fahy said that extra officers had been deployed for reassurance and that his officers had been engaging with local residents, community groups and traders.

The body of the 22-year-old, who was also known as Julia and Lili (short for Lilith), was found in a disused building located in the north eastern area of the park. Iuliana lived in Upper Tollington Park, Haringey

A murder investigation, led by DCI Nicola Wall, was launched after Iuliana’s body was found by a member of the public at 16:25hrs on Wednesday, 27 December

He said: ‘We understand that the local community might have concerns, but I want to reassure people that incidents of this nature are incredibly rare.

‘We have police out and about on patrol and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been out speaking to members of the community.

‘By all accounts, Iuliana was a bubbly lively girl enjoying a fun life in London when she was tragically taken from her loved ones. Our hearts go out to them. ‘

Anyone with information is asked to call the dedicated incident room on 020 8785 8244, tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Iuliana’s ‘distraught’ family, who are from Moldova and Cyprus, have demanded her killer is found and punished.

Her aunt Aliona Tudos, 43, from the Moldovan capital Chisinau, kept in close touch with the barmaid and said she did not have a boyfriend and ‘no enemies’.

It comes as a friend revealed that she had only recently started using a new shortcut through Finsbury Park to get home, despite usually avoiding the area at night.

There have been claims that a homeless man living in a tent in the park may be able to provide further information after police were seen investigating a campsite.