Wales: Police launch murder hunt after woman is found dead in hotel room

A 28-year-old woman has been found dead in a hotel room in Cardiff, South Wales.

Nadine Aburas's body was discovered by staff in the Future Inn hotel on Hemingway Road, at mid-day on New Year's Eve.

In a statement Ms Aburas' family said: "Nadine was a lovely, bubbly girl and unique and talented woman. She always wanted to help people and everybody loved her. She has left such a massive hole in our family and we will miss her so much."

A murder hunt has been launched as police search for 44-year-old Sammy Almahri, an American national who is described as having an "existing friendship" with the victim.

A resident of New York, Almahri arrived in the UK on Boxing Day and travelled to Cardiff on 28 December.

He checked into the hotel at 8.25pm on 30 December. Ms Aburas, who is from Cardiff, arrived at 9pm that evening.

Almahri left the hotel at 3am the next morning after which he travelled to London. On New Year's Eve he took a flight from Heathrow to Bahrain at 10.30am, Police believe he may now be in Tanzania.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said: "The hotel was busy with people who were in the city to celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve. People will have seen them together, or on their own, and I would urge them to come forward.

"While we have not yet made any arrests, we have a team of officers who are trying to trace Sammy Almahri, and now believe he is in Tanzania. We have been working closely with our counterparts in both NYPD and police officers in Tanzania," he explained.

"From our inquiries we have discovered that Almahri is very resourceful and has access to funds, which may further assist his evasion from law enforcement agencies.

"I consider this man to be a dangerous individual and would advise that any knowledge of his location or sightings of him are reported immediately to the authorities - and he is not to be approached."

Almahri has distinctive facial injuries, which are unrelated to the incident.

South Wales Police said they are awaiting further pathology tests before confirming how she died.