Police in the United Kingdom (UK) said on Saturday (July 13) that a 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with an investigation into the discovery of human remains on the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. The man was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, the Metropolitan Police (Met) said in a statement.
“The man, whose image had been released by officers on 12 July, was safely detained by Avon and Somerset armed officers at Temple Meads Station and was taken into custody, where he remains,” the statement said.
The man would be taken to London for questioning later on Saturday.
The grisly discovery
On Wednesday night, police found human remains in a pair of suitcases on the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The suspect male was witnessed dumping the suitcases on the bridge before fleeing on foot.
The police were called to the Clifton Suspension Bridge at 11:57 pm (local time) on Wednesday. The police arrived quite quickly but the suspect was nowhere to be found. The man left one suitcase behind, and the second suitcase was found nearby.
The victims had not been identified but both were believed to be adult males.
Earlier, the police described the suspect as bearded, wearing a black Adidas baseball cap with a white motif, black jeans, a black jacket with a motif on the chest, and black trainers with thick white soles.
The man was also believed to have been wearing a gold earring and was carrying a black backpack.
‘A significant development in probe’
In the Met statement, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said that the man’s arrest was a significant development in the case’s investigation, “and I would like to thank the public for their support.”
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“We understand the concerns of local communities in both Bristol and London and officers will remain in the Clifton and Shepherd’s Bush areas over the coming days to reassure those affected by this tragic incident,” Valentine added.
The police also said that extensive enquiries into the case were ongoing and at this stage, they were looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
(With inputs from agencies)