A BROTHEL where a Brazilian man was murdered was closed down just three months ago, police have revealed.

A joint operation between the Clubs and Vice Unit and Barnet Council shut the venue in mid-April but it had since reopened and Carlos Oliveria was murdered inside on Saturday at around 3.50am.

A post mortem found the 27-year-old, whose family have flown in from Brazil since the attack, died of a single stab wound to the heart.

Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Basu, borough commander for Barnet, said: "Incidents such as these are very rare.

“We recognise that the vast majority of the borough’s communities are extremely law abiding and their safety is our main concern.

“The Metropolitan Police Service will not tolerate any acts of violent disorder that may jeopardise the safety of the wider community.”

Police safer neighbourhoods teams have been running extra patrols in the area and have been visiting homes and businesses to answer residents’ concerns.

Mr Basu said: "We understand and sympathise that having a crime scene undergoing forensic examination, on a road where there are many key local businesses, may cause unrest.”