The suitcases dumped on Clifton Suspension Bridge contained two bodies, police have revealed during a press conference in Bristol this afternoon (Friday).
The Metropolitan Police have taken over the investigation – after it emerged the suspect travelled from the capital with the bodies of two adult male victims in tow.
Met detectives are now leading an investigation and a separate crime scene has now been set up in Shepherd’s Bush, London.
Enquiries carried out by officers from Avon and Somerset Police and the Met suggest that the man wanted in connection with the incident had travelled to Bristol from London earlier the same day.
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 (10 July).
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Avon and Somerset Police were initially called at 23:57hrs on Wednesday, 10 July after a man with a suitcase was seen acting suspiciously on Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Officers arrived less than ten minutes later, but the man had left the scene, leaving one suitcase behind. A second suitcase was found nearby a short time later. Both were found to contain human remains.
One post-mortem examination has been carried out. This was inconclusive and further tests will be carried out. A second post-mortem remains ongoing.
At this stage, the victims have not been formally identified but both are believed to be adult men.
At a press conference this afternoon, Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Hayward-Melen said: “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.
“There is also a crime scene in place at a location in Shepherd’s Bush.”
She said forensic investigations were still being carried out, but said of the human remains were: “They are believed to be of two adult men”.
She added: “There is no information to suggest he remains in the Avon and Somerset area.”
Residents in Leigh Woods earlier today expressed their fear as the police begin the second day of a manhunt.
Patrick Howe, 33, walked over the bridge just an hour before the incident – and said the whole experience was “disconcerting and very scary”.
The lawyer, who lives in Leigh Woods, said: “I actually watched the England game in Clifton village on Wednesday so I walked over the bridge at probably 10/10:30 – so then on Thursday morning my wife told me what had happened and I thought ‘bloody hell – I was literally there just an hour or so before that’. That was really weird and disconcerting, very scary.
“The whole thing is just like something out of a Netflix TV show – absolutely horrible.”
He added: “There were so many police down by the bridge yesterday morning – it was just a bit weird to see 10 or 15 police officers out with poles hitting the ground, trying to find the guy.
“My wife specifically is quite scared. She went to a summer party yesterday evening and before she left I was just saying to her ‘have you seen the image, make sure to stay vigilant ‘.”
“I suppose it’s not something you expect to happen on your doorstep and especially, I suppose, in this kind of area.”
The suspect left the bridge in the direction of Leigh Woods and a manhunt is underway to locate him.
However, the village on the edge of North Somerset was quiet and relatively peaceful on Friday morning after the bridge reopened overnight.
Another resident – who wished to stay anonymous – said the incident has left her family “terrified”.
She said: “I’ve been following the incident in the news – my family is terrified, my daughter in particular is very freaked out, just wondering where this guy is.
“It’s such a quiet area – we’ve lived here 30 years and nothing like this has ever happened.
“I’m hopeful it’s just a one-off thing and they catch him quickly.”
