A Colombian businesswoman, wanted internationally over the alleged poisoning murders of two schoolgirls, has been located in London after being rescued from the River Thames.
Dramatic River Rescue in Central London
Zulma Guzman Castro, a woman in her 50s, was pulled from the water near Battersea Bridge by the Metropolitan Police's Marine Policing Unit on the morning of Tuesday, 16 December. Authorities were alerted at 06:45hrs to reports of a woman in distress on the bridge.
The rescue operation concluded at 07:14hrs when she was recovered from the river. Castro was taken to a hospital for treatment, where her injuries were assessed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing.
Allegations of Vengeance with Poisoned Treats
Castro stands accused of the murders of two teenagers in Colombia: 14-year-old Ines de Bedout and her 13-year-old friend Emilia Forero. The tragic deaths occurred just days after the girls consumed chocolate-covered raspberries that were allegedly laced with a lethal substance.
Investigators claim the fruit was spiked with thallium, a heavy metal that is both colourless and odourless, making it exceptionally dangerous. The alleged motive was reported to be an 'act of vengeance' following a secret affair Castro had with the father of one of the victims.
Zulma Guzman Castro has denied any involvement in the killings of the two schoolgirls.
International Manhunt Ends in the UK
The case gained an international dimension earlier this month when Interpol issued a Red Notice for Castro's arrest. Authorities had warned that she had travelled through Brazil and Spain before entering the United Kingdom.
It is understood that Castro arrived in Britain on 11 November, prompting an active search by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Her discovery in the Thames brings a dramatic close to this phase of the cross-border investigation.
The case highlights the extensive reach of international law enforcement cooperation and the serious nature of the allegations, which have now physically reached the heart of London.
