Updated | 20-year-old Eritrean man found dead in Dresden

The Police are investigating the death of an Eritrean young man, whose blood soaked corpse was found outside his home in Dresden.

According to his seven flat-mates, the victim, Khaled Idris Bahray, 20, left his flat on Monday evening, saying that he would be going to the shops and that he would be back shortly.

His body was found the following morning covered in blood and wounds. Police initially said there were no suggestions of foul-play, however a social media frenzy, an inquiry from local journalist agencies, as well as pressure from the German Eritrean community, led to a murder investigation being launched. Hours later, the police confirmed that the results of the post-mortem examination revealed that Bahray had been murdered in a brutal and vicious knife attack.

President of Dresden police, Dieter Kroll said: "We now have evidence to confirm that a stab from a knife was the cause of his injuries. We can exclude the possibility that this was an accident. It is murder.”

Dresden police have now launched a murder investigation in the city.

Some Twitter and Facebook users were quick to suggest a link between Bahray’s death and the anti-Islam protests being staged by Pegida on a weekly basis in Dresden.  Bahray is known to be a Muslim, and the rallies attracted a record 25,000 demonstrators this week.

The group of protesters includes a core of neo-Nazis and violent football hooligans who are known to police.

A candlelit vigil for Bahray was arranged for Wednesday afternoon in Dresden’s Jorge Gomondai Square.