TALK TALK TALK . Stand up the leader who will do something about it now.

Lloyd , Flint,

Shocking though this crime is, we shouldn't really be shocked. There are no limits to depths man will fall. It is a salutary reminder that we are all sinners in need of redemption. All of us are capable of such a heinous crime, which is why we need a saviour, someone without sin, to save us.

Mike, Rome, Italy

I have always been proud to be English until today when I heard about those two young boys being murdered in the most horrific way. Their parents sent their two boys here not men, just 23 years old and look what happened to them. I would put money that the offender was released from prison.

Barbara D'Avino, Thornton Heath, Surrey

Lets get some perspective, yes this was a heinous wicked murder, however this crime was committed by an extremely depraved and dangerous individual. Indeed it takes a special kind of murderer to repeatedly mutilate a dead corpse. No amout of anti weapon legislation would have prevented this crime!

Stuart, London,

That's it! Let's allow everyone to defend themselves with weapons and escalate the speed of breakdown of British society. It's been coming for a while and sadly it will get worse. There is no sign of the root causes (presumably numerous) being addressed. Me? Glad I moved to Australia.

Simon , Melbourne, Australia

Two of the brightest students, Bio engineers with a special focus on DNA among other things. laptop stolen six days before they were murdered.. I think they had information and knowledge of something which could'nt for whatever reason be let out into the public arena. It sounds like a pro hit.

Helen, London, UK

Its not about the weapon of choice. Its about the individual that carries out the act. You can ban anything you wish, and it won't matter one whit. There will always be people who break the law...no matter how stringent the law, or how great the punishment.

Mitchell, Charleston, SC, USA

"We are laughing at you for banning guns and a whole host of other forms of defence. If these two frenchmen had guns they would be alive, period."

Unless whoever killed them had a gun too. Guns aren't just a form of defence, you know, and if civilians start using them more then so do criminals.

AKL, Brighton,

My sympathies go to the families and friends. And I hope they won't read all theses comments about the gun control, totally off topic as Steve from Miami Beach pointed it out. Let's just hope now that the police will solve this horrible crime quickly.
May their souls rest in peace.

Jenny, Sheffield, UK

To Tony in Islington please explore www.onlinenewspapers.com and you will see that there are so very few countries will a problem such as this.

Michael Tindall, Christchurch, New Zealand

"Mr Ferez’s research was into bacteria which create ethanol for use as fuel."

This aspect of the crime warrants investigation...

Edmund Land, NYC, NY, USA

How does one console parents of these two when the last they knew of them was they were coming to the UK for further education and improving themselves and instead met this horrendous fate. Some serious questions have to be asked. What has London come to be? Such hatred?

Prabhat, UK,

I can not comprehend what motivated this crime.. surely a crime of anger would not even constitute that many stab wounds. Also a crime involving drug gangs would not be so brutal.. this must be the work of a very disturbed individual. One can only hope he is found soon.

Jim, Oulu, Finland

Are the Judiiary to blame for letting these mad murderers walk our streets? When they catch him/them I will be watching to see if they are 'known to police', its quite likely they will be!

Steve , Great Dunmow, Essex

May their souls rest in peace and may the culripts be caught soon. However this kind of thing has been happening for centuries, Jack the Ripper 1888 is one example. You get sick people everywhere and to blame an entire city or country for it is off the mark.

Nathan, Wilmslow, UK

i can't believe this it's unbelievable i grew up on that road and by the looks of the picture the same block of flats - the place was always quiet, no trouble or anything suspicious.
i find it hard to believe how dispicable people are becoming generally in our society- nowhere seems to be safe

LJ, London, england

For the record, I'd rather be shot if I can't die in my sleep of natural causes. In fact, the horrific murders (short of one) I know of involves no guns used to kill.
Someone remind me, how did the wild west survive? Did travelling caravans of liberals roam the country collecting guns to 'save us'?

Mark, Jersey City, USA

Horrible. I lived there as a student, horrible area, universities should inform foreign students about the danger of living in certain parts of London. I feel that the parents of young people in London caught with Knifes should be fined too and benefits cut.

Maria , London,

Savage Nation!
Lock up your citizens, ban all edged weapons- and you still won't prevent the evil that lies in the hearts of men!

Bill, New Amsterdam, USA

Just another reason why my family are leaving the uk for Canada.

kevin, Hartlepool,

This is a revolting crime, and it’s yet another illustration that this country is becoming less and less safe to live in with every day that passes. That much is obvious. No wonder that anyone who can leave does so. Run, don't walk, to the nearest desert island.

Derek, Taunton, UK

Why should we British be ashamed? No one knows yet what happened or what nationality the murder was. Murder is still rare in the UK and our police, emergency and judicial services, the media and general public all do a wonderful job in being vigilant and helping to keep crime low and get it solved.

Tom Moncrieff, London , England

It is clearly time that Britain enact strong, anti weapons legislation. All knives should be registered, and severely restricted to those who need them for work purposes only. Strict knife control laws are the only way to stop senseless knifings.

Jonfre, Allentown,

We have to introduce electric chair or hanging until death whether the killer is a 10 year old or 70 years old.A capital punishment is the only solution for killing another person.The Conservative,Liberal and Labour parties should consider this.

R.C.Sekar, Welwyn, U.K

saying knives kill people is like blaming your pen for your grammatical and spelling errors.

tracie, Nashville, USA

I think after banning knives we must consider banning sticks and then stones. Water. What about water? You can drown somebody in water. Gravity. Gravity is a killer. And of course cliffs. The two together are deadly. Ban them. Cars?

haralambos, joburg,

I see all the comments from the UK when there's a gun death in the US to ban guns, does this mean the UK should ban knives? It doesn't matter either way, if a crazed person(s) want to kill someone, they will find a way.

D Murphy, St. Paul, MN, USA

The police should look closely into the project that he was working on, turning trash into ethanol. Who would have wanted him dead? This is a tragic loss for his family, and for the world. What else could he have invented had his life not been taken by force?

luis rollerby, london,

Steve beat me to the punch already. So when is the UK going to ban knives. After that will it be rocks. Violent crime will unfortunately always happen while sick, demented people walk the streets. Instead of removing the tools we need to remove the people performing these heinous acts.

Ed, Cambridge, USA

This type of crimes is not unique to London. It occurs in Paris and other cities in Europe. Last year a British student's throat was cut in Italy. Stop trying to peddle doom and gloom. These people who do this are so misreable. They are the one who should be bannished.

AlexT, London, UK

"When are they going to outlaw knives?" Give me a break.
All citizens should all be armed to fight back and protect themselves. A brick could be used as a weapon. Should bricks be outlawed too? You could stab someone with a fork, should we next outlaw forks and lap up our food like dogs?

chris, Dallas, tx

Knives don't kill people. Knives can be used by people to kill other people. Just like stones, ropes, cars, guns, electricity, chemicals, plastic bags, water, hands,...

Marc, Berlin, Germany

London has 3 murders per 100,000 - South Africa has 60. That's 22000 per annum. Deadly traffic accidents same. Does it make a huge difference if you go by 196 knife stabs or being dragged on tar at speed for five kilometers? Forty-four thousand violent deaths. London's kool. Believe me.

haralambos, joburg,

it is possible to stab someone 196 times?? i can´t believe there are people out there capable of doing such things. i hope they could find the murderer

Santiago, Montevideo, Uruguay

Why are crazed, knife wielding,maniacs being allowed to terrorise our streets.?

HUMAN NATURE (animal too)

haralambos, joburg,

Crazy knife-wielding maniacs roam London streets and kill Londoners at will because the victims have no effective means of self defense. And it is grotesque that the term "knife crime" is used to describe a stabbing. Do you also have "brick crime" and "tree limb crime" and "fist crime?"

Harold, Phoenix, USA

I just hope that the victims died before the majority of those stabbings occured, may they RIP.
In my view, I suspect that their work, or subjects being studied was a threat to some organisation/unknown group. Which was a direct threat to them, basically a pro hit.

Ryan Jones, Bristol, England

professional hit is what it looks like to me. 2 bio-engineers at the top of their field, experimenting in new technologies, would be a major threat to certain industries or groups, stolen laptops, mobile phones and other electronics seems suspicious, just my 2 cents...RIP to the 2 young men

Makana, Hawaii,

The murderer, if ever caught, will be either a drug crazed nutter or this was some sort of 'hit'. The clue to the possibility that it wasn't a 'nutter' is that an accelerant was sprayed to get the fire going and one of the students was involved in bacteria to ethanol research. Threatened interests?

tom, Reading,

These are no ordinary murders, there will be much more to come out & my feeling is they were involved in something cultural here.

Everything points to it, especially the way Bonomo was savaged.

How come the papers have only said French , but not mentioned ethnicity ?

maggie millington, brittany, france

you can't park anywhere without being caught by CCTV - why isn't it possible to use these to catch actual criminals?

sonny, london,

Interesting, the resident of a communist country would mention that armed people aren't any safer. In China, that is true.

An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man is a subject. There are no citizens in China...except for old men who live in communities isolated from the "proletariat".

Andrew Whitehead, Stockton, USA

Still there are people thinking the right to own a weapon would prevent similar events! Quite the opposite, unless you regard the US as a safe country. Then i have to say that your standards of safety are quite poor....or maybe you are just afraid of anything, then i am sorry for your miserable life

oudeis, Dongguan, China

Am I the only one that think this looks and sounds suspiciously like a mob hit?

What ever happened to the CCTV footages????...

Michael , London, UK

As far I can see, there is still no suspect by now.
As a result, neither the labor party,
nor the tories,
nor even whoever sold the knife.
are due to be blamed unless there is a prove of their guiltiness.
condolence for family and friends of the victims.

Pierre, Paris, France

So very sad. I don't think gun control has anything to do with this much mental illness or hatred. This is one of the sickest things I've ever heard and my heart goes out to their loved ones. They are left to suffer forever. It never should have happened....

kat, los angeles, usa

guns, knives, hammers, bats or poison do not kill people. people kill people. the instrument is not the issue, it is the mindset and morality of the perpetrators. our society continues to devalue human life, so what do you expect.

ej, pittsburghusa, usa

What a horrific crime. All I can say is that I'm glad to live in a country where one has a right to defend oneself, unlike the UK.

Richard Davis, Santa Monica, USA

All the 'anti right to bear arms' Brits on here should wake up :- Im British and come from Kings Cross which is overrun with thugs. I now live in a part of the US (north New Jersey) where there is ZERO violent crime. The reason is simple - try to burgle my house you get shot dead and I walk free.

John, Islington, UK

A tragedy for everyone concerned.

An opportunity for bigmouths to spew their asinine theories.

Guns don't kill people, you say. I say redneck, rightwing, goosestepping, gun loving fascists kill people.

The murderers will always turn out to be pathetic, greedy, sick and stupid.

William, Las Vegas, USA

I see, Americans are laughing at us for giving up our right to self-defence. In the US there are 10.26 gun related deaths per 100,000 people, in the UK there are 0.2.
These killings are all self-defence are they?

Paul, Singapore,

Surely you can't ban "knife crime" as they call it here right now. Then again, you want to do something against the violence and it is hard to tackle its roots, which normally one should do!! That is beliefs and education of the youth!!

Pete, Camberley, UK

There's an astounding degree of hysteria to be found in these comments..

I'd like to point out that almost anything can be used to kill someone if used in a determined enough way - vases, knitting needles, pans etc. Not to mention culinary tools ! Let's just forbid EVERYTHING to feel safe

walden, hamburg,

American gun advocates fail to tell you that the two Frenchmen wouldn't have had guns in the USA either?? They were temporarary residents meaning they wouldn't have been allowed to own them in the USA either. Of course they probably could have aquired them illegally as most criminals in the U.S do!

STEVE, MIAMI BEACH,

Were these boys Jewish? Does anyone know? There was a lot of hatred and overkill in theses murders. Why? Many times in murders like these there is an emotional connection.

Moriah, Sacramento, USA

Frank, don't be silly...surveillance cameras are to catch errant motorists...not criminals. Crims do not generate any revenue.

Cope, London, UK

Of all of the possible reactions to this horrible story, a reader below posted that he was glad to live in a country where his neighbors "don't own a gun". Let's see; the victims were stabbed 196 times and the set on fire; but at least they weren't shot by a gun. "Political Correctness" wins again.

Rob Scott, Birmingham, USA

You Brits have pretty much given up your rights for self-defense. You think the police can protect you? Nope. You think stricter laws will help you? {Now, it's REALLY against the law to committ murder! We are serious this time!} Nope.
You can only depend on yourself.

Delam, Pikeville, USA

STOP THE POLITICS IN THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT GUNS, KNIVES OR POINTING FINGERS AT AUTHORITIES! Two obviously bright humans were murdered in a horrific way and the time now is for prayer and unity for the families and civilized society as a whole.

May their souls rest in peace.

Keith, Dallas, USA

What is it with all these 'political' comments ?
The guys who did this must get caught and brought to justice.
(Should experience the same slow death)
Let the two souls be resting in heaven........

Paul, El Paso,

what a barbarian crime. there's obviously something behind. i do think that it could have happened in any city of the world. i'm still glad i live in a country where my neighbors don't own a gun. at least i only have to worry about criminals, not anyone going insane and start shooting around. peace.

francesco, london, europe

When will us Brits accept this is our problem and appoint leaders that drive change to benefit good living people.
We need a justice system that discourages crime & punishes offenders & a police force that prevents crime rather than meets targets.
Accept the reality & accept crime is increasing.

SL, Leicester, UK

My sympathies to the families of the victims. The violence towards the victims suggests an extreme anger towards them or something they represent. It would be desirable to get the individual(s) responsible off the streets as who knows what they will go off at next.

Wes Byrd, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

My first thought:
What were they working on?!

John, London,

"Americans" do not say ban knives or guns, only in the dreams of the far left. Either sheer insanity or a religious/political statement relatively common in an increasingly violent world where so many live in fear of what happens. Appears to be a long such a long , a long Such a long , long time before the dawn.

Russ, Sebastopol, Ca., usa

In a country that loves its surveillance cameras, you'd think the police would have prevented this crime or, at the very least, solved it by now.

Frank, Philadelphia, USA

Its the "Christians fault"... is your typical atheistic/ masonic British responce. The war against God by the British people will consume them and they will see thier children die in the streets. The athiest and freemasons gave you murderous communist and nazis states... now reap this.

Maccabees, new southland, canada

Most of you consider this is either a nut case or it looks like a crime of passion. True? Not necessarily, "Bonomo was studying a parasite which can spread from cats to human foetuses. Ferez’s research was into bacteria which create ethanol for use as fuel."...this is why these young men are dead

Kris, Arlington,

Alas, could this be the product of the extreme capitalism endorsed by Thatcher - after all extreme capitalism and compassion are mutually orthogonal, they cannot coexist, and since her rule we no longer have compassion, people rarely think of the consequence of our actions on others.

Ade, Surrey, UK

Many Americans react that way because we have a Constitution that clearly gives us the right to keep and bear arms. Something to do with tyrany, I believe. I don't currently own a gun because I have a young,intelligent, grand child living with my wife and myself and oldest son. I do have a bat.

charles Sanford, Hartselle, USA

It is not a matter of more laws, but better enforcement of what is already on the books combined with more efforts to intercept and redirect those headed towards a criminal lifestyle. If the perp is ever caught, odd are he was already on the run or a known addict that just wasn't picked up.

Ray Scheel, Huntsville, TX, USA

Number of guns in America: 200 million (conservative estimate). Number of gun deaths in a year: 14,000. Fatal accidents with guns: 650

Number of gun murders in Britain in 2006-7: 59

Edward, London,

There are tremendous pressures upon everyone at this time bringing to the surface horrible impulses--in this case--a demented, out of control desire to obliterate other human beings. This crime is almost Manson-like in its fury and will to destroy. Such talented young people... Professional rage?

Elan Durham, Santa Monica, CA/US

Quote: "ALL British citizens must tell their political parties that they WILL NOT vote for them unless they are truly committed to much stricter laws in this country."

Alan, isn't it already against the law to kill people in your country? How would "stricter laws" prevent killings like this?

Harold, Phoenix, USA

banning weapons isnt the issue!!
The out of control social destructivness of this society drunk on everykind of permissiveness and 'freedom' fanned by the media ;

This govermment like all of them in modern times along with EU are the source of societies disintegration

Tony, manchester, UK

Guns and knives dont kill people, depraved individuals kill people


So why is it that we lock up the guns and knives, so the depraved people have to look for something else, like a hammer???

Tom May, Waialua, United States

If politicians fould a way to free our police force to pursue criminals instead of targets and if we could find a way to motivate the people into being a touch less blinkered in the way they view the world, we could stop this ludicrous waste of life. But the discussion needs to be more mature!

Yan Templier, Linz, Austria

This is an obscene and wicked crime beyond belief,The person or persons responsible for this inhumanity are roaming our streets .

Donna, Torquay,

Ban knives? Ban Guns? No......ban Brussels!
It is them that does not allow a parent or teacher to discipline a pupil or child. They have undermined this once Great nation. I am sad to say it, but it is true.
This is a repulsive saddening crime yet it is now indicative of this country.

JH, Worcs, UK

Its funny the Brits replying "why do the Americans want us to ban knives" or to that effect. You guys don't get it. We are laughing at you for banning guns and a whole host of other forms of defence. If these two frenchmen had guns they would be alive, period.

dale, howell, USA

In the country that gives a license to create human-pig embryos - all is possible!

JMC, NY, US

Americans keep saying "Ban Knives!" in the hope that you'll see the absurdity of it, just like the absurdity of banning guns. Since you've banned guns crime has climbed out of control. Your response to that was to ban victims from fighting back. Now their only legal recourse is to beg for mercy.

Bob, Chicago, IL, USA

why do americans always insist on turning stories like these into arguments about gun control? clearly the perpetrators were insane and no amount of legislation regarding guns/knives etc would have stopped this.

Sam, Londinium,

Come on folks - Steve was obviously being facetious. He is using the clearly ridiculous call to ban knives to illustrate how equally ridiculous gun bans are. Banning a useful tool does not prevent evildoers from using the tools commit heinous acts.

John Warrenton-Smythe, Raleigh, NC, USA

No one is suggesting banning your average butter knife. But you wonder why some people feel the need to carry with them a knife that could make short work of skinnning a Woolly Mammoth while walking down Peckham High Street. Neanthedals perhaps?

Paul, Cincinnai, USA

Horrible, horrible tragedy. This is no time nor place to be making cracks about outlawing knives. Show some decorum. God bless the families and Godspeed and good luck to the police catching whoever perpetrated this act.

Robert, Wadsworth, Ohio, US

when will Gordon Brown and this useless government decide to do something about the terrible crimes being committed day in day out in this ONCE wonderful country- could it be when all the decent people have left ? my heartfelt sympathies go to the familes of those 2 poor boys . Julie Manchester

julie robinson, manchester ,

This is a revolting crime, and it’s yet another illustration that this country is becoming less and less safe to live in with every day that passes. That much is obvious.

Derek, Taunton, UK

Ban Knives!. Knives Kill People!
Ban Rope! Rope Kills People!
Ban Rocks! Rocks Kill People
Already Banned Guns - Check that

Common Tool in 99% Murders - Hands

Ban Hands! Hands Kill People!!
Yeah, that'll do it. Problem Solved.

george, san diego, usa

ALL British citizens must tell their political parties that they WILL NOT vote for them unless they are truly committed to much stricter laws in this country. Every one is getting sick and tired of these vitually daily pointless slayings and all the Police are interested in are pointless targets!

alan frank, winchester, UK

What is it with those from the US saying we should outlaw knives? The very same knives that are used for cutting food?

Just as with the argument over the pond to justify guns - knives don't kill people, people do... yeah, let's outlaw humans!

Howard, Manchester,

How can Britain as a whole be blamed for this ?!?!

The person or persons responsible are quite obviously very disturbed and have no regard for human life, decency or any laws.

Let us hope they are caught before any more become victims.

Greg, Victoria, Canada

When are they going to outlaw knives? Knives kill people. Why do they let that happen? It is very simple.
Steve, New York, USA
reply- That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard come out of someones head.. Why don't we outlaw forks while your at it. It's a sad tragedy yes. Sympathy to all...

Danielle, Columbus, United States

The dangers of living in a gun-free zone. What a shame they didn't have the choice to protect themselves with a firearm.

Elden, Newport News, USA

Steve: New York: POT/Kettle. When are the US going to outlaw guns? Guns Kill People: Ditto

Penz, London,

Steve, New York, USA

Pointy sticks kill people too.
Knives dont kill people, nutcases kill people.

Phill, The Wirral, England

Evil wins over good once again

conrad, Dover, England

In North Italy we had a similiar crime. One young woman, her mother, her child and a neighbour were killed in a flat by many knife wounds. The flat was burnt in the same way. The killers were a couple of neighbourghs, who hated the woman married with a young man from North Africa.

lisa, milan, italy

When are they going to outlaw knives? Knives kill people. Why do they let that happen? It is very simple.

Steve, New York, USA

This tragedy is a disgrace for the Britain. Until we get rid of the New Labour do-gooders, and put in a serious law and order government, this will become an all too common occurrence.

John, London, England

This is a disgusting crime for which Britain as a whole should be ashamed. My sympathies go to the families of these two students.

Richard, Plymouth,

Truely horrific story!

Andrew, London,

It's time to outlaw knives!

Abe, Houston, USA

absolutely dispicable, what on earth is london (my birth place Im ashamed to say at the minute) coming to. My heart Goes out to the families and friends of the 2 young men. Terrible.

Huwie, Anglesey, Wales

Im considering a move to London in January, 2009. Things like this do not help the cause.

Tracy, Asheville, USA

I am very sorry to know these tragic deaths of brilliant young men, It highlights the symptoms of a society which is losing respect for humanity and moral vacuum in which we are living now. My sincere condolences to their families.We need to create a culture which emphasies the dignity of life.

Gurcharan Manku, Slough, UK

Ian claims that London is becoming "the murder capital of Europe". Does he have any facts to back up this outlandish claim?

Tony, Islington, London,

After reading a wonderful story of a woman being realeased after years of captivity in Columbia, I am forced to read the horror of what is going on in our own wretched society.

Why are crazed, knife wielding,maniacs being allowed to terrorise our streets.?

May the poor boy's souls RIP.

Louise Hardy, Mirfield, England

Knife crime has become out of control in Britain. Polticians and top policeman keep talking up the threat from terrorism but it is clear that resources needed to be plouged urgently to tackle this deadly knife threat. Are we more scared today from terror attacks or being stabbed in the street ?

Atif Salahuddin, London,

Horrific! And i thought things were gruesome on this side of the pond. I hope that this is not just the beginning...

John, Washington DC, USA

Unfortunately, this stuff has always gone on - in all countries. The difference is the advanced state of the media to instantly report it. Witness me sitting in Independence, Missouri, USA.

God bless you all! England is a great country!

Dave Dribben, Independence, USA

This is a disgusting crime for which Britain as a whole should be ashamed. My sympathies go to the families of these two students.

Richard, Plymouth,

London is becoming the murder capital of Europe it seems !!!!

ian payne, walsall,

This is seriously worrying. If there is somebody out there capable of doing this then I hope they are found soon. What a tragic waste of such talented lives.

Chris, Manchester,