Clifton Suspension Bridge manhunt UPDATES: New arrest as police say bodies in suitcase belong to two men

Police have released new information about the two suitcases containing human remains found on the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, as the murder investigation expanded to a new part of the UK.

Clifton Bridge: London crime scene linked to discovery of human remains in Bristol

Detectives investigating the discovery of human remains in two suitcases in Bristol are tonight questioning a man who was arrested on Friday morning.

This is not the same man who was the focus of the police appeal yesterday following the publication of a photo.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said on Friday evening: “A 36-year-old man was arrested at an address in Greenwich early on Friday 12 July. He was taken into custody and remains there. This is not the same man we are looking for.”

The spokesman declined to comment on the suspicion on which the man was arrested.

Police had previously stated that human remains found in two suitcases near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol are believed to be those of two adult men.

The gruesome discovery was made on Wednesday evening after police were called to reports of a man with a suitcase acting suspiciously on the bridge. The man, who is still at large, is believed to have travelled from London to Bristol earlier in the day, the Metropolitan Police said.

A crime scene has been secured at a location in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, and detectives from the Metropolitan Police are currently leading the investigation. The victims have not yet been formally identified, but both are believed to be adult males. The results of a post-mortem examination are “inconclusive”, while a second post-mortem examination is ongoing.

Follow the latest updates in our live blog below…

20:4211 minutes agoBenedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Bridge reopened today

The Clifton Suspension Bridge reopened to pedestrians and motorists on Friday after being closed yesterday during initial police investigations.

The visitor center is scheduled to reopen tomorrow.

20:3221 mins agoBenedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Focus is on London

The focus of the investigation has today shifted to London: The Metropolitan Police is leading the investigation and setting up a crime scene in Shepherd’s Bush.

Avon and Somerset Police, which has jurisdiction in Bristol, believe the main person in the investigation is no longer in the area. He remains at large and is not the person arrested in Greenwich today.

20:1637 mins agoBenedict Tetzlaff-Deas

What do we know about the bodies?

British police said the bodies are believed to belong to two adult men. The victims have not yet been officially identified. An autopsy was deemed “inconclusive” and a second autopsy is pending.

19:34Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

What did the police say about the new arrest?

The man arrested is not the same man the police were looking for yesterday following the publication of a photo.

Police sources say they do not believe the arrest is “significant” for the investigation.

18:56Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Private ambulance arrives at the scene of the accident

According to the PA news agency, a private ambulance arrived at the scene of the accident in Shepherd’s Bush at 6.30pm.

18:16Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Police believe the suspect may have left Bristol

A statement released today by Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Hayward-Melen said: “The search for the man we released photographs of yesterday is now being led by the Metropolitan Police. There is no information to suggest he is still in the Avon and Somerset area.”

On Thursday, a forensic tent was set up on the Clifton Suspension Bridge((Tom Wren/SWNS)

18:02Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Family of missing student “informed”

The family of missing student Jack O’Sullivan has been informed of the Clifton Suspension Bridge investigation.

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.

However, police said they did not believe there was any connection between his disappearance and the discovery of the new bodies.

17:56Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Woman joked: “Are there any bodies in here?” as she helped the suspect pack his suitcase

A witness said he saw two men dragging the suitcases into a taxi on Wednesday evening while he was waiting for his own taxi – and overheard a shocking conversation.

He heard a woman joking with the two, innocently asking if they “had any bodies in the house.”

Giles Malone told LBC: “My wife and I went to watch the football match in Clifton Village with my dad and we left my dad’s flat at 10.30pm after the football match. We waited for an Uber on the corner next to the pub and stood there waiting for our car.

“A man and another man got out of another car across the street and for some reason lifted these suitcases across the street, right next to us.

“Another lady started to help them and the lady who was helping them said, ‘These are the heaviest suitcases I’ve ever lifted. What’s in them? Dead bodies?’ We kind of made a joke about it, but they didn’t say anything.”

17:50Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Investigation of the bodies in suitcases continues

The remains found in the two suitcases are currently undergoing a forensic autopsy. However, they are believed to be the bodies of two adult men.

Avon and Somerset Police say their identification is not yet official.

17:48Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Scene from murder investigation in London

A cordon was put up around an address in Shepherd’s Bush today as police expanded their investigation following the discovery of human remains.

A police officer at a cordon near an address in Shepherd’s Bush((PA)

17:42Key event

What did the Metropolitan Police say?

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Valentine, who is leading the investigation for the Met, said: “Over the last 48 hours we have worked extremely closely with colleagues from Avon and Somerset.

“This work leads us to believe that the man we need to speak to travelled from London to Bristol early on Wednesday evening.

“We are using resources across the force to locate and arrest the suspect and I urge anyone who believes they see him or knows his whereabouts to call 999 immediately.”

“Do not approach him. We recognise that this has caused significant concern among residents in the Clifton area and will also cause concern among people living and working in west London. Extra officers will be on patrol in the area over the coming days and I would encourage anyone who has concerns to speak to them.”

17:41Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Wanted man “travelled from Bristol to London before dropping off his suitcases”

Investigators assume that the wanted man travelled from London to Bristol with the two suitcases on Wednesday evening.

17:37Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Police on site, investigations expand to London

On Friday afternoon, a helicopter circled the crime scene on Scott’s Road in Shepherd’s Bush while four police officers guarded an area cordoned off with police tape and rubbish bins under a high-rise building.

Police on site in Shepherd’s Bush today(Sky News)

17:32Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Who is the suspect?

Avon and Somerset Police released two images of the suspect, showing a black man with a beard wearing a black Adidas baseball cap, black jeans, a black jacket and black trainers with thick white soles, and carrying a black backpack.

Police urged members of the public not to approach him and to call 999 if he is seen, but said they were not currently aware of any danger to the public.

17:31Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Neighbours describe raid in the early morning hours

Anthony Priest, 85, a resident of the Scott’s Road area in Shepherd’s Bush, said: “I heard them all racing around here in the early hours of the morning.”

“I heard a police car arriving with its blue lights. It must have been about half past three.”

17:19Susie Bee-ever

London Metropolitan Police search for suspect in west London

The Metropolitan Police are leading the search for the suspect in connection with the murder of two men whose bodies were found in suitcases in Bristol.

A search is underway in London for the suspect after the suspect’s remains were discovered on the Clifton Suspension Bridge on Wednesday. A crime scene was found in the London borough of Shepherd’s Bush on Friday.

17:18Key event

Police release update on identities of bodies found

The human remains found in two suitcases near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol are believed to be those of two adult men, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police announced that their officers have taken over the manhunt for the suspect. The bridge was closed earlier this week after Avon and Somerset Police were called to reports of a man acting suspiciously with a suitcase. When officers arrived, they made a horrific discovery: human remains in the suitcase. A second suitcase was later found.