Police 'were told of attack by ex-lover before sisters found killed'

Yasmine Larbi-Cherif 's assault allegation is being investigated.

The 22-year-old was found hacked to death alongside her sister Sabrina, 19, at their home on Monday afternoon.

The family of the women, who left home in South Kenton, Wembley, to move to Birmingham last year, today paid tribute to their lost "angels". In a statement, they said: " Yasmine and Sabrina were and will always be dearly loved and very respected by everyone who knew them.

"With amazing skills and tremendous determination, Yasmine and Sabrina excelled at everything they were involved with, socially and educationally.

"Due to their Islamic faith and open-minded upbringing they were always humble, compassionate, generous and helpful to anyone who knew them."

The sisters had three brothers, one of whom was Yasmine's twin.

Yasmine - who spoke French, Arabic, English and her native Berber - studied biochemistry at Birmingham University. Sabrina had also won a place there to study French, with the aim of later switching to dentistry.

Police revealed that the women were victims of a "sustained and frenzied attack" that left the walls of almost every room of their £240,000 flat in Ladywood spattered with blood.

Neighbours at t he Jupiter apartments block told of rows between one of the women and a man shortly before the killings. The pair had only lived there for a few weeks.

A man staying in a flat where Yasmine used to live in Moseley-Birmingham, said police called at the address earlier this year while investigating an assault against her. The 29-year-old, who asked not to be named, said officers told him Yasmine had reported being attacked by an exboyfriend. "We were told the boyfriend used to hit her," he said.

Officers are continuing to question a man arrested in connection with the murders. The 28-year-old was detained on Tuesday by police in Kent as he tried to board a ferry.