Colombian Yostin Andres Mosquera appears in court charged with murdering couple found dismembered in suitcases

It followed a nationwide police hunt, after a man was spotted carrying two suitcases containing human remains onto the Clifton suspension bridge late last Wednesday night.

Police have now named the two victims, whose bodies were dismembered and stuffed inside the suitcases.

They were Albert Alfonso, 62 and Paul Longworth, 71, who lived together at a flat in Scotts Road, Shepherds Bush in west London.

Detectives said the two men had previously been in a relationship and had still lived together at the west London property.

On Friday, police forensics teams found further human remains linked to the two victims at their Scotts Road flat.

On Monday afternoon, Mosquera appeared at Wimbledon magistrates court charged with their murder.

He sat in the dock wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit and spoke through an interpreter to confirm his name, date of birth and that he lived at an address in west London.

He is charged with murdering Alfonso and Longworth between the 8th and 10th July.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said detectives were making further enquiries to establish whether there may be any linked offences in the UK or overseas.

The Met’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine, who is leading the investigation said: “My thoughts are first and foremost with Albert and Paul’s loved ones who are coming to terms with this terrible news.

“I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London.

"I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders."

The Deputy Assistant Commissioner said his officers had worked with the LGBTQ+ Independent Advisory Group since the identity of the two victims and their sexuality was established.

Mosquera has been remanded into custody and will appear at the Central Criminal Court, the old Bailey on Wednesday 17 July.