woman arrested after two girls died when they ate poisoned raspberries

Zulma Guzman Castro,54,has been arrested in London today (Picture: Ladbible)

A businesswoman accused of killing two schoolgirls in Colombia with poisoned chocolate raspberries has been arrested in London.

Zulma Guzman Castro allegedly killed 14-year-old Ines de Bedout and her close friend,Emilia Forero,13,in Bogota,Colombia.

The two teenagers died days after eating the thallium-laced fruit on April 3,2025.

The 54-year-old had been at the centre of an international manhunt since leaving Colombia on April 13,but was found in the UK after being rescued from the River Thames on December 16.

She has been held in a psychiatric unit since she jumped into the Thames from Battersea Bridge,but was arrested in London today.

She is due to appear for a first extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today.

A National Crime Agency spokesman said: ‘Zulma Castro,aged 54,has today been arrested by officers from the NCA’s National Extradition Unit (NEU).  

‘Castro,who is wanted by the Colombian authorities in relation to murder and attempted murder,was arrested in W10 area of London.

‘She is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court this afternoon.’

Ms Castro is alleged to have killed the two girls in an ‘act of vengeance’ after a secret six-year affair with Ines’ father,Juan de Bedout,which started in 2014 and ended shortly before his wife’s death.

She fled Colombia shortly after and an Interpol Red Notice was issued against her last month,with authorities saying she had visited Brazil,Spain and the UK.

Zulma Guzman Castro has been held in a psychiatric unit since she jumped into the River Thames last month (Picture: X)

It is understood that the alleged double killer arrived in Britain on November 11.

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Last month,it emerged that she had reportedly given her location away after drinking Buxton water during a TV interview.

She was seen drinking from the British water brand during an interview with Colombian TV,where she broke her silence to deny the allegations.

Ms Castro said in a message while on the run: ‘I find myself in the middle of a very serious situation…where I’m being accused of having been the person who sent a poison that killed two girls.

‘They accuse me of having fled to Argentina,and then to Brazil,Spain and the UK.

‘Those who know me know I haven’t fled anywhere. They know I’ve been working in Argentina and began a masters in journalism here.

‘I went to Spain more than a month ago,with a stopover in Brazil,and then to the UK because of my son.

‘I imagine they’re accusing me because I had a secret relationship with the father of one of the girls.’

In December,Emilia’s devastated father,Pedro Forero,posted on social media.

Emilia’s father Pedro said she will always be his ‘greatest love’ (Picture: Facebook/@Pedro Forero)

He wrote: ‘Fourteen years ago,a life of hopes,joys and dreams began; a life that filled a family,a father and a mother. 

‘But it wasn’t just the joy of someone else’s life; it was the beginning of the life of an excellent human being who had dreams,hopes and goals.

‘As a father,it is incomprehensible to think that someone was capable of taking this away.

‘She did not just take away my dreams,my desires and my prospects in life as a father; she did not just take away my opportunity to be a father-in-law,grandfather and everything else one can be as a parent. 

‘She took away my daughter’s opportunity to be a girlfriend,a professional,a wife,a mother and a daughter.’

The girls were reportedly spending time in an apartment in Bogota,Colombia,with an older brother and another friend after school when they ate the fatal fruit.

The raspberries are said to have been laced with thallium,which is a colourless,odourless and tasteless substance.

Thallium is commonly used in the manufacturing of electronics,optical lenses,semiconductors,alloys and radiation detection equipment.

It was allegedly injected directly into the raspberries before being sent to the girls.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.