Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder (Picture: Essex Police)
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man’s body was found in woodland two days after being ‘taken against his will.’
The body is believed to be that of a man in his 40s who had gone missing from an address in north London, alongside a woman in her 30s.
A member of the public had raised concerns for the man, and residents reported on social media they had seen a large emergency service presence, including ambulance workers and forensics officers.
Police said the pair were known to each other, and added the investigation is a ‘very complex and fast-moving’ one but that a ‘key line of enquiry is that the man and woman were taken against their will in a vehicle’ on Thursday.
The man’s body was discovered in woodland near the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate in Loughton at around 11.55am on Saturday.
Officers were called on Friday afternoon to reports that the man and woman were missing from an address in Ebony Crescent, between Barnet and Enfield, having last been seen the night before.
As they worked to find the pair, the discovery of the body was reported to Essex Police.
The force, who were initially investigating, confirmed on Sunday that Scotland Yard has taken over the probe as the man is believed to have died within the area for which the Met is responsible.
A post-mortem examination and formal identification of the body will take place in due course, the Met said.
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The three men are in police custody after they were arrested in Kent.
Det Ch Insp Kate Kieran said: ‘While the investigation remains at an early stage, a key line of enquiry is that the man and woman were taken against their will in a vehicle on Thursday night.
‘I need anyone who was in the Ebony Crescent area on the night of Thursday 13 October and may have witnessed something suspicious, to contact police immediately.
‘This is a very complex and fast-moving investigation.’
A post mortem examination and formal identification will take place in due course, Scotland Yard said.
Police are providing specialist support to the family of the deceased and the woman.
Essex Police have said the death is being treated as suspicious and road closures have been put in place, limiting access to the industrial estate.
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The man and the woman are believed to have been known to each other and were held ‘against their will’ according to police.