Police have given a huge update on a major murder probe launched after human remains were uncovered earlier this month.
Four different police cordons were put in place this weekend as part of the investigation, after body parts wrapped in cellophane were found at Kersal Dale by a passer-by.
A police cordon has been put in place at Blackleach Country Park in Walkden. Three other police scenes are in place in relation to the investigation today as the probe ramps up. These are Worsley Road, Winton, Linnyshaw Colliery Wood also in Salford and Mitchell Street in Bury.
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Greater Manchester Police have now revealed the victim is thought to be a Salford man, aged in his 60s, who was residing with the two suspects. It is thought he died in late March.
More body parts were found by divers in the the reservoir at the Blackleach Country Park, with further remains also uncovered by a horrified dog walker 'in a package' at Linnyshaw Colliery Wood. It is believed they both belong to the same victim.
Although formal ID has not yet taken place, his family have been informed of the discovery and are currently being supported by specialist officers. It is expected identification will take place within the next week.
Two men, aged 42 and 68, were arrested earlier this week following the discovery of the human remains at the nature reserve in Salford on April 4. It came after a passer-by found the lower back, buttocks, and a thigh of a man wrapped in cellophane, near a footpath.
Follow our live blog below for the latest updates as we get them.
Key Events
Everything that was said at police press conference
Pictures from the scene at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods where further remains were found by a dog walker
Victim believed to be a local man in his 60s from Salford
GMP to hold press conference at 6pm
GMP statement
John Shammas
Live coverage continues
You can follow it with breaking news reporter Ashlie Blakey here.
James Holt
Police descended on Linnyshaw Colliery Wood at around 7.30pm last night
Residents saw police cordoning off the area after human remains were discovered by a dog walker.
James Holt
Evidence markers at scene
Police evidence markers have been pictured at the scene in Linnyshaw Colliery Wood where human remains were found by a dog walker yesterday
James Holt
Footpaths taped off at Linnyshaw Colliery Wood
A police scene remains in place after human remains were found last night
KEY EVENT
Everything that was said at police press conference
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for the investigation said:
We have continued to make significant progress in our investigation into human remains being found in Kersal earlier this month. From day one, our priority has been to identify the man and his family so that we can give them the support and the answers that they need.
Thanks to meticulous forensic work, we are now confident we have identified the man. Formal identification hasn’t yet taken place, but we believe he is a man in his 60s and lived in Salford. Specially-trained family liaison officers have met with his family this afternoon to give them the devastating news, and we will do all that we can to support them at this awful time.
We believe he is known to the two suspects we have in custody. They have remained in custody for questioning over the weekend, as we work to establish how the victim met this tragic outcome.
We have painstakingly worked to follow up every line of inquiry in this investigation. Over the last couple of days, we have acted on information and had four scenes in place for extensive searches – one of them is at a warehouse in Bury, and three of them are in Salford, including here at Blackleach reservoir.
Today, we have found some human remains at the reservoir here, and last night a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood. Forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains these are, but we are very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.
We have also been searching a house in Winton where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived. We have found evidence that the victim is likely to have died there – most likely in late March.
While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond - including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.
Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.
James Holt
The scene at Linnyshaw Colliery Wood where dog walker uncovered more human remains
Our reporter Tom is at one of the other scenes in place, where human remains were uncovered by a dog walker.
James Holt
'Too soon to speculate on motive' that led to man's death
Police have said it is too soon to speculate on the motive on the killing of the Salford victim.
James Holt
FULL STORY: Police uncover further human remains amid major murder probe as victim now thought to be Salford man in his 60s
Police have uncovered further human remains amid an ongoing murder probe, with the victim now thought to be a local Salford man in his 60s.
A major investigation was launched on April 4 after a passer-by found a lower back, buttocks and a thigh wrapped in multiple sheets of cellophane at Kersal Dale. A 12-day search of the area commenced, with a huge cordon in place and search teams out for almost two weeks in a bid to identify the victim.
Over the weekend, four separate police cordons were put in place at Blackleach Country Park in Walkden, Worsley Road in Winton, Linnyshaw Colliery Wood also in Salford and Mitchell Street in Bury.
Greater Manchester Police said 'new intelligence' had been uncovered with significant 'breakthroughs' made in the investigation. Two men, aged 42 and 68, who were arrested earlier this week remain in custody. They are thought to be known to one another.
Giving a new update to reporters at a press conference from the scene at Blackleach Country Park on Sunday (April 28), Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes said that further human remains had been discovered.
READ THE FULL STORY:
KEY EVENT
Pictures from the scene at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods where further remains were found by a dog walker
Police and forensics remain at the scene at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods where further human remains were uncovered by a dog walker on Saturday night (April 29).
Pictures: ASP
James Holt
Victim thought to have died in 'late March'
Police have revealed further details this evening
James Holt
WATCH: Full press conference
KEY EVENT
Victim believed to be a local man in his 60s from Salford
At a press conference this afternoon, police have said they believe the victim is a local man in his 60s from Salford.
Formal ID has not taken place but the family of the suspected victim has been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, members of the press were told.
Further human remains, thought to have belonged to the same victim, were uncovered by police at Blackleach Reservior and also from a scene in Linneyshaw Colliery Wood also in Salford, where a dog walker found human remains in packaging.
It is thought the victim was residing in the same house as the suspects. Police have said they are keeping an 'open mind' but are not currently looking for any other suspects.
James Holt
Pictures from the scene this afternoon
Police remain in attendance at Blackleach Reservoir, Salford.
Pictures: ASP
KEY EVENT
GMP to hold press conference at 6pm
Greater Manchester Police is holding a press conference at 6pm. An officer is to due to provide an update on the investigation and the four scenes currently in place across Salford and Bury, the force has said.
We will bring you live updates in this blog.
Joseph Timan
Who was the victim?
A DNA check revealed that the victim is not on the national police database. He is white and is believed to be European.
The victim is thought to be 'over 40' and most likely had blonde or light brown hair and blue eyes, according to GMP.
Earlier this week, after police arrested two suspects, Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes of GMP’s Serious Crime Division said the force is determined to identify the victim. He said: "This victim could be a father, brother, son, or cousin.
"We continue to appeal to anyone missing a loved one who matches this description to come forward."
Joseph Timan
What police have said so far
Greater Manchester Police says the force has been 'working around the clock' on this investigation with detectives and specialist officers continuing to pursue all available lines of enquiry in this weekend, overnight and into today (April 28).
The latest development comes after new intelligence was uncovered this weekend. The reservoir at Blackleach Country Park in Walkden has been tapped off since yesterday (April 27) while three other police scenes are in place as of today.
GMP explained that the four police scenes have been put in place to preserve any evidence found and also to make sure that no stone is left unturned in finding out what happened. Two suspects arrested earlier this week remain in custody.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes said: "As we close the net further on this investigation and uncover more intelligence, I want to reassure our communities we are doing everything in our power to ensure we obtain every available bit of available evidence. Our investigation so far has been a far-reaching and painstaking process, trawling through hundreds of hours of CCTV alongside recording several accounts from the public around the circ*mstances."
Joseph Timan
What was found at Kersal Dale?
The full horror of what was found at Kersal Dale was revealed after police concluded their 12-day search of the Salford beauty spot. On April 4, a passer-by found a lower back, buttocks, and thigh, all wrapped in multiple sheets of cellophane.
Police called off the search after no further body on April 16 after finding no further body parts. A search of the area resumed last weekend, but reports of 'pungent smell' turned out to be sulphur and the search was called off again.
This weekend, new intelligence has been uncovered and four police scenes have been put in place in Winton, Walkden, Salford and Bury. This includes the scene at Blackleach Country Park where the underwater search unit has been seen.
Joseph Timan
Blackleach search
Police have been at Blackleach Country Park since yesterday (April 27). Local residents saw divers entering the water.
A large cordon is still in place around the reservoir today (April 28). Specialist search teams, including from the underwater search and marine unit, have been spotted at the police scene which is one of four currently in place in Salford and Bury.
Joseph Timan
What we know so far
There are currently four police scenes in place as part of the Kersal Dale murder investigation. The scenes are at Worsley Road in Winton, Blackleach Country Park in Walkden, Linneyshaw Colliery Wood in Salford and Mitchell Street in Bury.
An underwater search team and police dogs have been seen around the Blackleach reservoir where the cordon is in place. Forensics officers have been seen at an industrial unit in Bury and in a back garden of a semi-detached house in Winton.
GMP says detectives and specialist officers have continued to pursue all available lines of enquiry in relation to the murder probe this weekend, overnight and into today (April 28). It comes after new intelligence was uncovered this weekend.
A 12-day search took place at Kersal Dale and nearby Kersal Wetlands starting on April 4 when a passer-by found the lower back, buttocks, and a thigh of a man wrapped in cellophane, near a footpath. Two suspects are being questioned.
Joseph Timan
Bury police scene
Forensics officers have been spotted working inside an industrial unit off Mitchell Street in Bury. Here are some photos.
Joseph Timan
Forensics in back garden
Our reporter John Scheerhout is in Winton where a police scene is in place as part of the Kersal Dale murder probe. Forensics officers appear to be focusing on the back garden of a semi-detached house in Worsley Road.
Kersal Dale murder investigation: scene of crime officers remain at a semi detached house on Worsley Road in Winton. They are focussing on the back garden pic.twitter.com/TKMhQOtYan
— John Scheerhout (@johnscheerhout) April 28, 2024
Joseph Timan
More photos from Blackleach
There has been a heavy police presence at Blackleach Country Park all day. Here are some more photos from this morning.
Joseph Timan
Police search dog
A police search dog was spotted at Blackleach Country Park where a cordon is still in place. Our reporter John Scheerhout caught the cannine on camera as he was reporting live from the scene. You can watch his Facebook Live report here.
Joseph Timan
Forensics in Bury
GMP's Crime Scene Investigation unit is currently in Mitchell Street, Bury where a police scene is in place as part of the Kersdal Dale murder probe. Forensics officers are checking one of the units there, according to our reporter at the scene.
Joseph Timan
Our reporter live at the scene
Our reporter John Scheerout is reporting live from the scene at Blackleach Country Park. You can watch it here.
Joseph Timan
Blackleach search
Police appear to be focusing their search at Blackleach Country Park on a woodland area at one end of the reservoir.
Kersal Dale murder investigation: police are concentrating on woodland at one end of the reservoir at Blackleach Country Park. I’ve seen officers tramping through the undergrowth pic.twitter.com/JlIfjpVaa1
— John Scheerhout (@johnscheerhout) April 28, 2024
Joseph Timan
New intelligence uncovered
GMP says that the latest development in the murder probe comes after new intelligence was uncovered this weekend. Detectives and specialist officers are working 'around the clock' across the weekend, overnight and into today (April 28).
KEY EVENT
GMP statement
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes of our Serious Crime Division said; “As we close the net further on this investigation and uncover more intelligence, I want to reassure our communities we are doing everything in our power to ensure we obtain every available bit of available evidence.
“Our investigation so far has been a far-reaching and painstaking process, trawling through hundreds of hours of CCTV alongside recording several accounts from the public around the circ*mstances.
“The four scenes in place are to make sure we investigate thoroughly and continue with our good progress and remain committed on keeping you updated as and when we make further developments.
“We are still appealing to our local communities, if they have seen, heard or witnessed anything suspicious in the areas mentioned, please do the right thing and come forward as it is not too late and that tiny bit of detail you have could be crucial.
“You can do this by calling 101 and quoting log number 2695 of 04/04/2024. If you would like to remain anonymous, details can be shared via the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.”
KEY EVENT
FOUR scenes in place
Police have revealed that there are currently four scenes in place as part of the Kersal Dale murder probe. GMP says there have been further breakthroughs in the investigation with officers working 'around the clock' to find out what happened.
The four scenes currently in place are at Worsley Road, Winton, Blackleach Reservoir in Salford, Linneyshaw Colliery Wood also in Salford and Mitchell Street in Bury. These scenes are to preserve any evidence found whilst also making sure no stone is left unturned in finding out what happened in these tragic set of circ*mstances, the police force has said.
Joseph Timan
'Significant police operation underway'
Our reporter John Scheerhout has shared some more photos from the scene, including one of a specialist search unit vehicle. A 'significant' police operation is underway at the Walkden park with many vehicles lined up on Sporside Avenue.
Kersal Dale murder investigation: there is a significant police operation underway at Blackleach Country Park this morning. Police vehicles, and one fire service vehicle, are lined up here on Sportside Avenue pic.twitter.com/MxRtor0nXT
— John Scheerhout (@johnscheerhout) April 28, 2024
