A woman found dead in the boot of a car in Ilford has been identified by police as 24-year-old Harshita Brella.

A murder investigation is ongoing after Harshita’s body was found in a vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford, shortly after midnight on Thursday.

Police, who identified him late Saturday, said they believed he was “targeted” by someone he knew, but added they were “keeping an open mind.”

Harshita’s death is being investigated by the Met police and Northamptonshire Police. No arrests have been made yet.

Northamptonshire Police said it received a call about concerns for Harshita’s welfare on Wednesday.

“Officers were dispatched to his home address in Skegness Walk, Corby, and after receiving no response launched a missing person investigation,” a spokesman said.

“Expedited inquiries were carried out which unfortunately led to the discovery of a woman’s body in the boot of a vehicle on Brisbane Road in Ilford, London in the early hours of Thursday 14 November.”

Harshita is from the town of Corby in northern Northamptonshire, about 90 miles north of London.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said a post-mortem examination on Friday determined he had been killed.

The force also made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contacts between the force and Harshita.

Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, Senior Investigating Officer from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), said in a statement late on Saturday: “Firstly I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to everyone who loved Harshita Brella.

“She was a young woman in her early 20s with her whole life ahead of her and it is absolutely tragic that her life was cut short like this.

“Detectives from EMSOU and Northamptonshire Police are working around the clock to establish the circumstances behind the death, including the exact location and time period of the incident.”

DCI Campbell has urged anyone with information about this incident to contact police.

“While we believe Harshita was attacked by someone she knew, we remain open-minded and urge anyone who recognizes her to contact us with any relevant information they have,” he said.

“If you have seen anything suspicious in the last week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us. We would always rather receive well-intentioned information that turns out to be nothing than not receive it all.

A Met spokesman said: “Shortly after midnight on Thursday morning, November 14, officers from Northamptonshire Police contacted the Met expressing concerns for the welfare of a woman believed to be in a car in the east London area.

“The car was parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford and the body of a 24-year-old woman was found inside the vehicle.”

Photos on Saturday showed a crime scene outside the entrance to Valentines Park, located at the end of Brisbane Road. The entrance to the park was also taped off by the police.

The scene of the crime was reportedly set up for four days at a home on Sturton Walk in Crosby’s Lincoln Estate.

A neighbor told the Northamptonshire Telegraph that around 12 people lived in the house last year and that it had been the subject of noise complaints at one point.

They said that the number of people living there has decreased since then and that the place is home to people from various European nations.

They heard a commotion earlier in the week, telling the Northamptonshire Telegraph they heard “explosions coming from the house” and then heard the door slamming.

“I knew something had happened by the way the door closed,” he said. “One of them sped away.

“I heard explosions coming from the house and obviously they broke in and left.”

About half a mile long, the residential street starts at the main road, Ley Street, and intersects several other residential streets, before coming to a dead end at Valentines Park, the popular green space along which it runs for 150 metres.

Supt Freeman said: “Detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime Squad and the Metropolitan Police are working quickly to establish the circumstances leading to the woman’s death.

“The investigation is ongoing and police activity will continue in various locations including Corby and Ilford throughout the weekend.

“Although we believe this was a targeted incident and there is no wider risk to the public, further patrols will be carried out in Corby for reassurance over the coming days.

“Anyone with concerns can contact one of these officers who will be happy to help and anyone with information that could assist our investigations is asked to contact us on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”