What happened on the Clifton Suspension Bridge?
Shortly before midnight on Wednesday evening, police received a report of a man acting suspiciously on the Grade I-listed bridge in Bristol. The man had arrived at the bridge via taxi.
What was suspicious about his behaviour?
According to locals, the suspension bridge security staff reported the man because they noticed that the suitcase he was carrying was leaking blood.
A neighbour told The Independent that one suitcase was left on the bridge, and another in the bushes nearby.
How did the suspect escape?
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It took the police around 10 minutes to arrive at the scene, during which time the man disappeared.
He left two suitcases at the scene, which contained human remains.
Who is the suspect?
The suspect's name is currently unknown, however Avon Police released this photograph of the man. Anyone who sees him should call 999 immediately.
He is described as: 'black with a beard, wearing a black Adidas baseball cap, black jeans, a black jacket and black trainers with thick white soles.' He also had a black backpack and wore a gold earring.
Where has the suspect gone?
Police don't know his location, but they have said the suspect set off in the direction of Leigh Woods after abandoning the suitcases.
Who are the victims?
The identity of the victims is currently unknown. Police have said the remains belong to two men and further post mortem examinations are underway.
How many victims are there?
According to a statement made by Avon & Somerset police on Friday 12th July, there are two victims, both believed to be male.
Could the victim be Jack O'Sullivan?
Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Hayward-Melen confirmed that police been in contact with the family of missing man Jack O'Sullivan, a 23-year-old who went missing in Bristol 18 weeks ago.
The police have said that Jack's family have been "informed of the incident" but said "no parallels are actively being drawn".
How are the police currently investigating?
A search is underway for the suspect, and the public are being asked to contact the police with any information. The public have been told not to approach him if he is spotted.
Police are also working with the taxi driver who took the suspect to the suspension bridge, and his vehicle has been seized.
Helicopters and the coastguard are being utilised in the search.
Are there any witnesses?
A 61-year-old man named Giles Malone told LBC that he saw the suspect carrying a suitcase. He commented: "After a few minutes we noticed a man and another man - a black man and a white man - carrying a suitcase across the street right towards us.
"They were struggling with the weight of it. I actually thought they might drop it in the middle of the road. I thought about going to help them, but something made me stop.
"And so they came over and put the suitcase right by our feet. I said to them - 'That looks really heavy, what have you got in there, a body?' - jokingly like you do.
"We were feeling good, happy, so I made a joke and they didn't reply.Then they just left it by us and they walked back across the street."
How long has the suspect been missing?
The suspect has been missing since around 11.57PM on Wednesday 10th July.
Have the police made any further statements?
On Friday 12th July, Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Hayward-Melen made the following statement: “The discovery of human remains within two suitcases on the Clifton Suspension bridge in Bristol on Wednesday night has understandably caused shock and deep concern to our communities.
“Over the past 36 hours significant progress has been made in the investigation which up until now has been led by officers and staff from our major crime investigation team. as a direct result of these enquiries and due to information gathered so far, priority for this investigation to the metropolitan police. It is believed that the man wanted in connection with this incident had traveled to the Bristol area on Wednesday 10th July before taking a taxi to Clifton Suspension bridge where the suitcases were unloaded.
“There is also a crime scene in place at Shepherd's Bush. Our detectives are working closely with the enquiry team and we will continue to assist them in any way we can. We are able to confirm that forensic post mortem investigations are still being carried out on the remains found within the two suitcases, but they are believed to me that of two adult men.
“It's important to stress that they have not been formally identified at this time, but we are making efforts to contact their next of kin. A search for the man whose photo we released yesterday is now being led by the Metropolitan police, there is no information to suggest that he remains in the Avon and Somerset area.”
