LONDON : London's Metropolitan Police on Sunday released a man arrested in connection with the grisly knife murders of two French students one week ago.

The 21-year-old was arrested on Saturday at 3:40 am in the street in south-east London.

The bodies of 23-year-olds Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo were found in a burnt-out flat in the area.

"The man has now been released on the afternoon of July 6, with no further action," the police said of the arrested man.

"Appeals continue and we reiterated our need for information from the public."

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Duthie, leading the investigation, said: "I do not know why they were killed or who killed them but I believe the person or persons responsible would have been blood stained as a result of this attack.

"A white man was seen running away from the block of flats after the blaze was started. He is a potential suspect. Who was that man?"

Post-mortems gave cause of death in both cases as multiple stab wounds to the head, neck and torso. Police also believe the students were bound during their ordeal. - AFP/de