A fundraiser set up by friends of Finsbury Park murder victim Iuliana Tudos has raised almost £10,000 towards her funeral costs in hours.

Tributes have poured in for the 22-year-old, who police believe was stabbed near her home in Upper Tollington Park after leaving friends at 8pm on Christmas Eve.

Tonight Haringey’s top cop said extra officers would be patrolling the area around the park to reassure worried locals.

Iuliana, also known as Juliana or Julie, worked as a barmaid at Camden rock pub The World’s End. She caught the bus to go home from Camden Road and was due to meet up with friends in Enfield to spend Christmas with them when she went missing.

Scotland Yard have this evening said CCTV footage shows Iuliana on the periphery of the park at 8.20pm.

Her body was found in a hut near the softball pitches on Wednesday afternoon and police believe she was attacked in the same spot.

A post-mortem found she had been stabbed in the abdomen and also suffered a head injury.

A Go Fund Me page was set up yesterday to pay for Iuliana’s funeral. The £4,000 target was smashed in hours and now stands at more than £9,400.

Det Ch Insp Nicola Wall, from the Met’s homicide and major crime command, is leading the investigation. She said: “We are working to piece together a timeline of Iuliana’s movements and continue to pursue all lines of enquiry as regards to a motive. Her body was discovered in a disused building in the area of the park near the junction of Green lanes and Endymion Road, and we believe that she was attacked where she was found.

“Our enquiries from CCTV footage have now ascertained that Iuliana was seen on the periphery of the park on Christmas Eve, shortly after 20:20hrs. We want to hear from anyone who saw, had contact with, or heard from Iuliana after this time. We’d also like to hear from anybody who saw anything suspicious within the park over the Xmas period.

“We are in touch with Iuliana’s family, who are currently living abroad, and they are naturally devastated, as her close network of friends in the UK.

“All of them are desperate for any information that can help us find out what happened to her, so I would urgent anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible.”

Haringey borough commander Des Fahy said: “We understand the local community might have concerns, but I want to reassure people that incidents of this nature are incredibly rare.

“We have police out and about on patrol and local Neighbourhood Policing Teams have been out speaking to members of the community - an area of floral tributes has been agreed with park wardens at the Endymion Road gates entrance.

“Police are working tirelessly, following multiple lines of enquiry to track down the person, or people responsible - that’s why the area will need to remain cordoned off for some time. People should be alert, but not alarmed, and make sure to report anything suspicious to police.

“By all accounts, Iuliani was a bubbly lively girl enjoying a fun life in London when she was tragically taken from her loved ones. Our hearts go out to them. “

Anyone with information can call the dedicated HMCC incident room on 0208 785 8244, tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

To view and donate to the fundraiser, click here.