Summary

  • Human remains found in two suitcases near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol are believed to be those of two men

  • Police believe the man they're hunting had travelled from London before taking a taxi to the bridge

  • A crime scene is now in place in Shepherd's Bush, London and the Met has taken over the manhunt

  • An image of the man they want to speak to has been issued and he remains at large

  • The Met has urged anyone who believes they see him, or who knows of his whereabouts, not to approach him but to call 999 immediately

  1. Goodbyepublished at 20:47 12 July

    We are bringing this live page to an end.

    You can read the news article which includes all of the details of what happened today here.

    We will bring you all the updates as the story develops across BBC radio, TV and online.

  2. Man arrestedpublished at 20:27 12 July

    Harry Low
    BBC London News

    The Metropolitan Police has arrested a 36-year-old man at a property in south-east London.

    He is not the man police have issued images of in their appeal, a force spokesperson said.

    He was arrested in Greenwich early on Friday and remains in custody.

  3. 'It's really scary'published at 18:14 12 July

    Joe Inwood
    Reporting from Shepherd's Bush

    It isn't clear if the property being searched on Scott's Road is connected to the man police are searching for - or to the victims found in the suitcases.

    More locals have been turning up, mostly returning from a day at work to find their street sealed off.

    Miriam, a young woman who lives nearby, heard a helicopter last night. "It was up for half an hour or so," she said.

    "It's scary, obviously. It's a calm, residential area normally. We walk to and from work, especially at night. So it's really scary," she said.

  4. Press conference footagepublished at 18:07 12 July

    Media caption,

    Police discover dumped suitcases contain two bodies

    Avon and Somerset Police held a press conference near the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol on Friday afternoon.

    Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Hayward-Melen revealed that another crime scene had been located in Shepherd's Bush in London.

    She said detectives believed that the suspect had travelled from London and that officers believed the dumped suitcases contained two bodies.

    The investigation has been handed over to the Metropolitan Police.

  5. Nervousness in the communitypublished at 18:05 12 July

    Victoria Hollins
    Reporting from Shepherd's Bush

    The sound of a helicopter vibrates through the streets where the focus of this investigation has shifted for police and press alike.

    I’ve had a chat with people nearby and as expected they’re pretty shaken up by the thought such a grisly incident could have happened close to their homes.

    This is an area of close-knit terraced houses and blocks of flats. There’s just a general feeling of upset in the community.

    I’ve just spoken to Meghdad and his family who are living in a flat on Scotts Road. He told me they were woken by the noise of police helicopters around 2am.

    Occasionally locals have stopped to ask officers on duty what’s going on here but are told "this is an active investigation".

    The Met says it is putting extra officers in the area to reassure residents.

  6. Timeline of eventspublished at 18:01 12 July

    Dawn Limbu
    BBC News, Bristol

    • Wednesday 23:57 BST: Police receive a report of a man with a suitcase acting suspiciously on Clifton Suspension Bridge. Officers arrive within 10 minutes but the man had already left, leaving the suitcase behind. A second suitcase is found nearby. Both contain human remains.
    • Initial inquiries reveal the man was taken to the bridge by taxi. The vehicle is seized and the driver helps officers.
    • Thursday 13:50 BST: Avon and Somerset Police confirm a manhunt is under way
    • 16:50 BST: Police release two images of the man they are searching for. He is described as black with a beard, wearing all black clothes, a black Adidas cap and a gold earring.
    • Friday AM: All cordons are lifted and Clifton Suspension Bridge is re-opened to pedestrians and vehicles in both directions.
    • 15:15 BST: Avon and Somerset Police say the suitcases contained the remains of two adult males, and that detectives believe the man they are looking for had travelled from London to Bristol earlier on Wednesday.
    • 16:24 BST: Police confirm a second crime scene located on the corner of Scotts Road and Devonport Road in Shepherd's Bush, London.
    A female police officer standing behind police tape with two male officers behind her
    Image caption,

    Police at the crime scene in Shepherd's Bush

  7. Where has the manhunt moved in London?published at 17:15 12 July

    Police believe the man they are hunting had travelled from Shepherd's Bush in west London in a taxi to the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.

    Map of Devonport Road in Shepherd's Bush

    The police operation, now being led by London's Metropolitan Police, is centred on Devonport Road, just under half a mile from Shepherd's Bush Market Tube station.

  8. Officers enter propertypublished at 17:13 12 July

    Forensic officers have entered a property on a road that was sealed off earlier today.

    Media caption,

    Manhunt moves to London as remains found in suitcases in Bristol

  9. Police arrived in the early hourspublished at 16:56 12 July

    Anthony Priest, 85, a resident of the Scotts Road area in Shepherd's Bush, where police have focused operations, says: "I heard them all tearing down here in the early hours of the morning. "I heard a police car coming down, with lights flashing."

    He says they arrived at about 3:30am.

  10. 'Distressed residents'published at 16:55 12 July

    Joe Inwood
    Reporting from Shepherd's Bush

    Blue police tape has sealed off Scotts Road in west London, as forensics officers search a property on the leafy street.

    There are a steady stream of police arriving at the scene, the second to have been opened after the discovery of human remains in Bristol

    There are also a number of local residents arriving, distressed to think that their area has a connection to the discovery of the bodies.

    One woman, holding a young baby, looked visibly shaken.

    Forensic officers coming out of police vans
    Image caption,

    Forensic officers arrive at the scene of the crime

  11. Retracing the routepublished at 16:37 12 July

    Our correspondent, Dan Johnson, traced the route which police believe the suspect took on Wednesday night.

    The man, who police want to speak to in connection with the incident, fled before officers arrived at the scene.

    In the most recent update from police, they said the suspect is no longer believed to be in the Avon and Somerset area.

    You can read more here.

    Media caption,

    Clifton Suspension Bridge: Visiting the scene where bodies were dumped on a bridge

  12. Crime scene in Shepherd's Bushpublished at 16:33 12 July

    Police activity is taking place at an address on the corner of Scotts Road and Devonport Road in London's Shepherd's Bush. Officers have confirmed this crime scene is related to the hunt for the wanted man.

    A police crime scene on Scotts Road in London
    Image caption,

    The crime scene is located on Devonport Road on the corner of Scotts Road in Shepherd's Bush

    Three police officers standing in front of police tape
    Image caption,

    Police officers at the crime scene on Scotts Road

  13. Café worker doesn’t ‘feel as safe as before’published at 16:19 12 July

    Shaun Dacosta
    BBC Newsbeat in Bristol

    Joely Rendle works in a café nearby and says it’s had an impact on her personally.

    “I live here and am working in the area. It’s pretty scary and I don’t feel as safe as I did before,” Joely, 24, tells BBC Newsbeat.

    She describes what’s happened as “unsettling”.

    “Everyone is feeling pretty shocked, you don’t expect that to happen here, so close by," she added.

    Joely Rendle. She has dark brown hair which is tied up. She is in a cafe, wearing a black t-shirt. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling.
  14. London to Bristolpublished at 16:18 12 July

    Speaking at afternoon's press conference, Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Hayward-Melen said the suspect had travelled from London before leaving the suitcases in Bristol.

    "It is believed the man wanted in connection with this incident had travelled to the Clifton area of Bristol from London earlier on Wednesday, before taking a taxi to Clifton Suspension Bridge where the suitcases were unloaded," she said.

  15. What we have learnt from the press conferencepublished at 16:17 12 July

    This afternoon's press conference has revealed new information that moves this investigation on.

    Police confirmed that the suspect travelled from London to the Clifton area of Bristol on Wednesday, before taking a taxi to Clifton Suspension Bridge.

    There is now a second crime scene in Shepherd's Bush in London, and the investigation has been handed over to the Metropolitan police.

    Forensic post-mortem examinations are still being carried out on the bodies in the suitcases - but they are believed to be of two adult men.

    Avon and Somerset Police said there is no information to suggest that the suspect is still in the Avon and Somerset area.

    Police will continue to carry out patrols in Clifton and Leigh Woods over the next few days.

  16. Here is the man police are looking forpublished at 16:05 12 July

    Officers are looking for a man who was seen "acting suspiciously" on Clifton Suspension Bridge late on Wednesday.

    He is described as black, with a beard. He was 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. He is also believed to have been wearing a gold earring and was carrying a black backpack.

    Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Haywood-Melen said there is no information to suggest that the suspect remains in the Avon and Somerset area.

    A photo of a black man wearing all black and a black Adidas capImage source, Avon and Somerset Police
    Image caption,

    Police have released images of a man they are looking for

  17. Victims were two adult menpublished at 15:47 12 July

    Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Haywood-Melen said the remains in the suitcase are believed to be of two adult men.

    "We're able to confirm forensic post-mortem examinations are still being carried out on the remains found within the two suitcases, but they are believed to be of two adult men," she said.

    "It's important to stress that they have not yet been formally identified and efforts to locate and speak to their next of kin are being prioritised."

  18. Extra patrols in Cliftonpublished at 15:31 12 July

    Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine has reassured residents living in Clifton and Shepherd's Bush.

    “We recognise this has caused significant concern to residents in the Clifton area and will cause concern among those who live and work in West London," she said.

    “Extra officers will be on patrol in the area over the coming days and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to speak to them.”

  19. Metropolitan Police leading investigationpublished at 15:25 12 July

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

    "This work leads us to believe the man we need to speak to travelled to Bristol from London earlier on Wednesday evening.

    “We are drawing on resources from across the Met to find and apprehend the suspect and I would urge anyone who believes they see him, or who knows of his whereabouts, to call 999 straight away.

    "Do not approach him."

  20. Police at scene in Bristol give press conferencepublished at 15:24 12 July

    Vicks Hayward-Melen