Man arrested on suspicion of murdering pregnant Hampstead woman Lihau Cao

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a pregnant Hampstead woman who disappeared six years ago.

Lihau Cao, who was also known as Li or Lisa Ekiareb, was last seen at the end of October 2006 when she was four months pregnant.

A 37 year-old man was arrested last night (Thursday 7) and remains in police custody.

His arrest comes after detectives last week re-launched the investigation into Li’s disappearance as a murder inquiry – although her body has never been found.

Li lived with her husband in Hampstead and worked as a waitress in China Town. She was 27 when she went missing in 2006.

Following continued efforts to trace her, officers now believe she was murdered after she was last in contact with her family in October 2006.

They are appealing for information to help them piece together Li’s final movements.

Li was 5ft 4 inches tall, of small build and had long shoulder length black hair.

Acting DCI Manning said: “Although an arrest has been made we stress that all our appeals for information do still stand. Please come forward if you can assist.

“No body has ever been recovered, and we particularly ask anyone who may have information on its whereabouts to contact police.”

Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.