A woman accused of poisoning two teenage girls in Colombia has been found alive after being rescued from the River Thames in west London.
Zulma Guzman Castro was pulled from the water near Battersea Bridge on Tuesday morning after police received reports of a woman in distress. The Metropolitan Police’s Marine Policing Unit recovered her shortly after 7am and she was taken to hospital, where her condition was confirmed to be non-life-threatening.
Castro is wanted by Colombian authorities over the alleged poisoning deaths of two teenagers, Ines de Bedout, 14, and her friend Emilia Forero, 13. Prosecutors claim the girls consumed chocolate-covered raspberries that had been contaminated with thallium, a toxic heavy metal. Castro has denied the allegations.
The deaths occurred in Bogotá, where the teenagers reportedly ate the dessert after school and later fell seriously ill. They died several days later. Colombian prosecutors allege the act was motivated by personal revenge following a secret relationship between Castro and the father of one of the victims.
An Interpol Red Notice was issued earlier this month after Castro left Colombia. Authorities believe she travelled through several countries, including Brazil and Spain, before arriving in the UK on November 11. The National Crime Agency had been actively seeking her.
The incident in London prompted a response from emergency services early on Tuesday. Police have confirmed that enquiries are ongoing, and international authorities are expected to be informed of her recovery.
