Image of suspect issued after suitcases with human remains found at Clifton Suspension Bridge
Two cases were left at the famous bridge in Bristol on Wednesday night, triggering a major manhunt
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Police have released two images of a man they are searching for after two suitcases containing human remains were found on Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.
Avon and Somerset Police said they are still trying to identify the bearded man wearing a black cap in the pictures issued to the media on Thursday afternoon.
The forced launched a manhunt after officers were called to reports of a man seen acting suspiciously at the bridge at 11.57pm on Wednesday.
Officers arrived within 10 minutes but the man had already left, leaving a suitcase behind. A second suitcase was located a short while later.
Both were found to contain human remains.
Speaking from the bridge, acting Bristol commander Vicks Hayward-Melen said: “This is a very disturbing incident and I fully recognise the concern it will be causing our communities.”
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She said the force’s “immediate priority” was to locate the man and identify the human remains, with a post-mortem examination still to be completed.
The picture released by police showed a black man with a beard, wearing a black Adidas baseball cap, black jeans, a black jacket, black trainers with thick white soles and a black backpack.
CCTV footage showed the suspect heading off the bridge in the direction of Leigh Woods.
After officers arrived at the scene on Wednesday night, a police helicopter and the Coastguard were called out in a bid to locate the man reported to them by staff on the bridge.
The force said the man arrived by taxi and that the driver was now assisting investigators with the vehicle now seized.
One eyewitness told Bristol Live he saw a man being pursued by a cyclist as he fled the scene.
On Thursday, a forensic tent was put up on the Leigh Woods side of the bridge as police teams focused on the area nearby.
Commander Hayward-Melen said: “Specialist crime scene investigators are currently examining the bridge and surrounding area, and the bridge will remain closed while these inquiries are conducted.”
Police have also been in contact with the family of missing Jack O’Sullivan to “inform them of the incident” but said “no parallels are actively being drawn”.
The 23-year-old was last seen at about 3.15am on 2 March in the area of Brunel Lock Road and Brunel Way in Bristol.
Carlya Denyer, MP for Bristol Central, said she was “deeply disturbed” by the discovery and thanked the police for their swift action.
The Green Party co-leader posted on X: “I am deeply disturbed by the horrifying discovery of human remains at Clifton Suspension Bridge overnight.
“Distressing events like this are unsettling for all of us who call Bristol home and are proud of our city.
“Thank you ASPolice for your swift action. I am in contact with authorities and will do anything I can to support a swift and thorough investigation.”
The road over the landmark bridge, which connects Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset, remained closed on Thursday night as the police operation continued.