Police search for man linked to human remains found on Clifton Suspension Bridge
Police in Bristol are urgently searching for a man seen behaving suspiciously on the Clifton Suspension Bridge just before two suitcases containing human remains were discovered. Avon and Somerset Police responded to reports of the man acting strangely at around midnight Wednesday, but he had already left by the time officers arrived.
Disturbing incident raises community concerns
“This is a very disturbing incident and I fully recognize the concern it will be causing our communities,” Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Hayward-Melen said.
Police, with assistance from the coastguard, are working to identify the man and released an image of him, advising the public not to approach.
“Our immediate priority is to locate the man who took the suitcases to the bridge, identify the deceased, and inform their next of kin,” Hayward-Melen added.
The historic bridge becomes a crime scene
The Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by pioneering engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is one of the oldest surviving suspension bridges in the world. Spanning the Avon Gorge, the bridge is a significant landmark and tourist attraction in Bristol.
“Specialist crime scene investigators are currently examining the bridge and surrounding area, and the bridge will remain closed while these inquiries are conducted,” Hayward-Melen said.
Investigation underway
Police are reviewing surveillance footage and tracking the man’s movements after he left the bridge. “At this time, we’re not aware of any current risk to the wider public,” the police statement said.
This gruesome discovery comes just one day after police in England detained a 26-year-old man following an hours-long manhunt for the murders of three women with a crossbow.