One of the women whose body was found in a freezer in an east London flat last week has been formally identified as mother-of-three Mihrican Mustafa, 38, Scotland Yard said.

Two fully-clothed bodies, which were fused together in a small chest freezer, were found in a ground floor flat in Vandome Close, Canning Town, last Friday. 

Mustafa, known as MJ, had been missing for nearly a year having been reported missing on 10 May 2018.

Zahid Younis, 34, who lived at the property was arrested and appeared in court accused of two counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body on or before April 2017. 

The Met Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the matter. This is an “agreed protocol” a statement said.

A police statement said it had referred itself to the police watchdog over the case, in which she had been considered a missing person for nearly a year before she was discovered.

The statement said: “The mother-of-three had been reported missing to Newham police on 10 May 2018 and work had been ongoing to trace her. She lived in/frequented the Canning Town area.

“Since MJ was a missing person, the Met has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in accordance with agreed protocols.”

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: “We are now confident that one of the females found is MJ. As you can imagine, this is a devastating time for her family and we would ask for their privacy to be respected.

“MJ was reported missing in May 2018. As yet we don’t know when she died; a post-mortem examination is ongoing.

“I would appeal for anyone who knew MJ and may have information about what happened to her and in particular her association with the address in Vandrome Road where she was found to come forward. Did you see her just before or maybe even after she was reported missing? What was she doing? Who was she with?”

The force added detectives believe the flat in Vandome Close was frequented by drug users and “transient members of the community”.

A 50-year-old who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released under investigation.

Police said the apartment where the bodies were found had been used by “transient members of the community” and linked to drugs. They have appealed for anyone who visited the address over the past year to come forward.