A fugitive accused of killing two schoolgirls with poisoned chocolate-covered raspberries was pulled alive from the River Thames.
Zulma Guzman Castro was rescued from the water close to Battersea Bridge, west London, on Tuesday morning.
The businesswoman is alleged to have killed two teenagers in Colombia by spiking raspberries with a colourless and odourless heavy metal called thallium.
It was said to be an ‘act of vengeance’ after she had a secret affair with the father of one of the victims.
Ines de Bedout, 14, and close friend Emilia Forero, 13, died in hospital days after consuming the chocolate berries.
Castro, who denies killing the teenagers, fled Colombia shortly after.
An Interpol Red Notice was issued against her earlier this month, with authorities saying she visited Brazil, Spain and the UK.
It’s understood that the alleged double killer arrived in Britain on November 11 and the National Crime Agency were actively hunting her.
A Met Police spokesman told The Sun: ‘Police were called at 6.45am on Tuesday, 16 December to reports of a woman in distress on Battersea Bridge.
‘The Met’s Marine Policing Unit recovered a woman in her 50s from the water at 7.14am and she was taken to hospital, where her injuries have since been deemed not life-threatening or life-changing.’
The girls’ deaths sparked desperate social media posts from Emilia’s father Pedro Forero.
Thallium is typically used in the manufacturing of electronics, optical lenses, semiconductors, alloys and radiation detection equipment.
Prosecutors claim Castro, who was reportedly having an affair with Ines’ father Juan de Bedout, used a courier to deliver the deadly dessert.
Local media claim the runaway suspect might have poisoned the children to take revenge on her former lover.
Another teenage girl who ate the poisoned raspberries, along with the 21-year-old brother of one of the victims, were hospitalised following the incident seven months ago.
Both survived, but the girl is said to have suffered lasting health problems.
