Clifton Suspension Bridge: Family of missing student ‘informed’ as bodies found in suitcases

The family of a student who disappeared after a party have been “informed” by police after bodies were found in suitcases at a major British landmark.

Jack O’Sullivan disappeared in Bristol over four months ago on March 2nd. His last known whereabouts was near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the Cumberland Basin, just 800 metres away.

Police have said they do not believe there is a connection between the ongoing search for the missing 23-year-old and the recent incident in which a man left two suitcases on the way to the bridge just after 11.30pm on Wednesday. Human remains were later found in the suitcases. Officials have since released a photo of a man wanted in connection with the bodies.

During a press conference on Thursday evening near the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Chief Inspector Vicks Haywood-Melen said she understood there were questions about whether this incident was linked to the Jack O’Sullivan case, but she confirmed that police were not making a link between the two incidents.

She said: “So I understand the parallels that could be drawn to Jack’s case and we ask everyone to avoid any speculation at this time. What I can confirm is that because of the nature of the incident and the concerns that people may have, as you noted there, a senior officer has been in touch with Jack’s family to inform them of the incident but I can confirm at this stage that no parallels are being actively drawn.”

In the update, police also released a new CCTV image of the man wanted over the discovery of the bodies. The public were urged not to approach him and to call 999 if they see him, quoting reference number 5224180010 to the call handler. Chief Inspector Vicks Haywood-Melen added: “Officers are currently working to trace his movements through CCTV and I can confirm that we know he was walking behind me towards Leigh Woods. At this stage we are not aware of any current danger he poses to the general public, however if anyone sees him we would advise them not to approach him and to call 999 immediately.”

The man, whose name was not released by police, is described as black and with a beard. He was wearing a black Adidas baseball cap, black jeans, a black jacket, black sneakers with thick white soles and a black backpack. Police believe he left the bridge in the direction of Leigh Woods.

Police officers have said they are “reviewing CCTV” and “working to track the man’s movements after he left the bridge” after a search using a helicopter failed to locate him last night. “At this time we are not aware of any current danger to the public,” police added. The bridge, a famous national landmark and a major transport route into Bristol, remained closed on Thursday.