The brother of missing former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie has been arrested in connection with her disappearance, it was reported today.
It comes as police yesterday dragged a headless female torso from a canal in the east end of London, feared to be the 29-year-old.
Her brother Tony, 35, was arrested today and is in custody at an east London police station, Sky News said.
Police have not confirmed the identity of the suspect.
Earlier Mr McCluskie had told how he had last seen his sister at home last Thursday afternoon.
He told the press his sister's disappearance is 'completely' out of character and that she had never been missing before.
He added: 'We are going out of our mind with worry. She is a bubbly, outgoing, strong and independent woman.'
Officers were alerted after a member of the public noticed something suspicious floating in the water.
There has so far been no link established between the disappearance of Miss McCluskie, who played Kerry Skinner in 2001, and yesterday's find, which came after police had expressed extreme concern for the actress's welfare.
A Metropolitan spokesman said: 'A body was found in Regent's Canal near Broadway Market in East London at 2:40pm.
'Enquiries are underway to establish the identity of the deceased. A post-mortem will be scheduled to ascertain the cause of death.
'Pending that post mortem we will be treating the death as unexplained.'
Friends and relatives of Miss McCluskie have launched a frantic search around London’s East End for the petite brunette, who appeared in more than 30 episodes of the flagship BBC soap.
Her character arrived in Albert Square as a friend of Zoe Slater and the great niece of the late Ethel Skinner. She briefly dated Robbie Jackson and got him to propose to her.
Unidentified: A police diver searches a canal next to Broadway Market, East London after a body was found
Crime scene: Police seal off the towpath and canal next to Broadway Market in east London after a torso was found in the water
Mystery: A diver prepares to enter the water at Regents Canal, where the body was found as the search for Gemma McCluskie continued
Former EastEnders stars including Martine McCutcheon and Brooke Kinsella have begun assisting the search on Twitter.
More than 100 people carried out a search around the local area, placing posters in shops and pubs and handing out leaflets last night, after Miss McCluskie was last seen at her home in Bethnal Green last Thursday.
