HORROR .....Suspected knifeman, 27, is arrested after his mother, 66, and sister, 33, were found stabbed to death in bloodbath at their suburban home

A suspect has been arrested after a manhunt was launched when a mother and daughter were found stabbed to death inside their home in north London.

Police were called to the house of Joshua Cohen at 8.50pm on Friday night and found his sister and mother, aged 33 and 66, suffering from stab wounds.

Officers launched a hunt for Cohen, 27, and later arrested him after he was spotted in Golders Hill Park by a member of the public at around 2pm today.

Neighbours claimed that Cohen had recently been to prison for assaulting his sister, who was named locally as Hannah Cohen.

In a public appeal, Met Police said Cohen had shaved his head and eyebrows and suffers from mental health issues including paranoid schizophrenia.

One neighbour, 44, who did not want to be named, said he saw Josh outside the house at around the time of the attack. 

'He went to prison for assaulting his sister for a couple of months and that was the last I saw of him until last night,' he said.

'He heading towards the tube station, which is where other people said they saw him wandering around.

'I knew of him - he was a bit of a character in the area because of his mental problems - he was known about, but I don't think anyone knew he had this in him. 

'I don't know the mum's name but I know she was disabled, mentally and psychically I think and she had a lot of help at the house.

'I live right across the road; I've spoken to him and sat on the wall and had a cigarette with him - it was that type of relationship.

'He used to live in the house but there were problems, so he moved to an annexe at the back of the house for a while, but there were more problems.'

The neighbour also claimed Joshua's late father Asher owns a bagel shop on Brick Lane, east London.

He added: 'The family were Jewish but I don't think Josh was interested in it at all from what I'd gathered and the way he looked and acted. 

'It's absolutely sickening, the police presence afterwards was crazy so I knew something had gone on but once I found out it was his mum and sister I felt sick.'  

A video taken in the road last night shows armed officers on the scene and police warned members of the public not to approach Cohen.

Golders Green Crescent has been closed off by police as investigations are carried out inside the house.

Cohen is described as white male, 5ft 9ins tall, with short cropped hair and short beard or stubble.

He was last seen wearing a red Nike hooded sweatshirt with a white logo on the chest. He was also wearing white trainers and dark grey trousers. 

Speaking before the arrest, Detective Inspector Ian Lott from the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: 'This was a devastating attack on two women in their homes.

'The individual we are seeking was known to them and from all the information we have, acted alone.

'I would urge anyone who saw anything in the local area at the time of the attack to get in touch with investigators immediately. 

'Likewise, if you spot Joshua Cohen please call police on 999.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Rose from Barnet said: 'I would like to reassure local residents that police are doing everything they can to find and apprehend the individual suspected to be involved in this horrific attack.

'High visibility foot patrols have been stepped up in the area and police will be on hand to listen and respond to community concerns.

'We will continue to work with the CST and keep them fully updated with significant developments.'

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 0208 358 0200 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.