Human remains found in two suitcases are thought to be those of two adult men, police have said.
Acting Bristol Commander Vicks Hayward-Melen said the Metropolitan Police was taking over the investigation after two suitcases containing human remains were found on Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.
A crime scene is in place at a location in Shepherds Bush and the Met have taken over the manhunt to find the suspect.
Avon and Somerset Police had earlier released a photograph of the suspect. They had not identified the man.
The public is still advised to call 999 immediately if they see him.
He was 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 was wearing a gold earring.
Image: Pic: Avon and Somerset Police
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).”
Police said on Thursday the suspect had set off in the direction of Leigh Woods after abandoning the suitcases.
Officers received reports just before midnight on Wednesday evening of a man acting suspiciously near the bridge.
Read more: Witness joked: ‘What have you got in there, a body?’
Image: A police tent on Clifton Suspension Bridge, where suitcases containing what are believed to be body parts has been found
Police arrived at the scene within 10 minutes – but the man had vanished, leaving a suitcase behind. A second suitcase was found nearby a short time later.
Commander Hayward-Melen said on Thursday the suspect had been taken to the bridge by taxi. The driver is helping with the police investigation.
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Tap here
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
A police officer was left with “serious bite injuries” after being attacked by a dog believed to be an XL bully.
The Leicestershire Police officer was called to a property in Ibstock, near Coalville, in search of a wanted man at around 4.40pm on Thursday, the force said.
He and another male officer attended the call and were both bitten by the dog, with the first taken to hospital for “serious bite injuries” to his upper leg and the second treated for a cut to his finger.
The dog has been seized and placed in secure kennels pending an investigation.
A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “Although the dog has not been further examined, it is believed to be an XL bully breed. This dog and a second dog, a pit bull type breed, were seized from the address and remain in secure kennels.
“Enquiries are ongoing into the incident. There have been no arrests.”
The breed, which has been developed from the American pit bull terrier, is not officially categorised in the UK.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to ban them, but dog experts argue the move is problematic.
Campaigners say that after several bite incidents, including a fatal one that killed a 52-year-old man in Staffordshire in September, any attempts to ban them could also outlaw other similar breeds.
Police shot dead an XL bully in the grounds of a Norfolk primary school earlier this month after it attacked a woman in her 60s.
And in September an 11-year-old girl was left with serious injuries as a result of a similar attack.
The five men onboard the missing Titan sub are believed to have died after the vessel suffered a “catastrophic implosion”.
Rear Admiral John Mauger – who led the search – confirmed that a remotely operated vehicle had discovered the nose cone of the lost submersible about 487m (1,600ft) from the bow of the Titanic on the seafloor.
Further debris was found nearby, with Rear Admiral Mauger adding: “In consultation with experts from within unified command, the debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber.
“On behalf of US Coast Guard and entire unified command, I offer deepest condolences to the families. I can only imagine what this has been like for them, and I hope this discovery provides some solace during this difficult time.”
Tributes paid to Titan passengers – live updates
Image: The Titan submersible in June 2021. File pic: OceanGate Expeditions via AP
Minutes before the news conference, OceanGate – which owned the submersible – released a statement that said: “We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost.
“These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans.
“Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.”
Sky’s US correspondent James Matthews – who was at the US Coast Guard’s news conference in Boston – asked Rear Admiral Mauger whether any trace of the passengers had been found.
He replied: “This is an incredibly complex operating environment on the seafloor, over two miles beneath the surface. The remote operating vehicle has been searching, and it is highly capable, and we’ve been able to classify parts of the pressure chamber for the Titan submersible.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:12
‘Why were you worried about Titan?’
When asked about the prospects for recovering crew members, Rear Admiral Mauger warned, “it is an incredibly unforgiving environment on the seafloor”.
While the debris is consistent with a “catastrophic implosion” of the vessel, he stressed that it is too early to know when this happened – and underwater robots remain on scene to gather information.
“We’ll continue to work and continue to search the area down there, but I don’t have an answer for prospects at this time,” he told reporters.
Carl Hartsville, an expert from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, later added that no debris from the Titanic is based in the area.
While there had been speculation in past news conferences that underwater banging noises heard near the site could be linked to Titan, the Coast Guard said there doesn’t appear to be a connection.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said it was “tragic news” that the five men had lost their lives. Billionaire Hamish Harding – as well as businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman – were British citizens.
“The UK government is closely supporting the families affected and expresses our deepest condolences,” he added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:33
‘Two friends of mine are gone’
Early on Thursday morning, it had been announced that a “debris field” had been found at the search site.
David Mearns – a rescue expert who knew two of the five men onboard – had told Sky News earlier that Titan’s landing frame and rear cover had been identified.
Five days have passed since Titan’s passengers embarked on a two-hour dive to see the wreck of the Titanic.
Teams from multiple countries had scoured thousands of square miles looking for the minivan-sized vessel.
On Wednesday, the US Coast Guard had forecast that the vessel’s air supply would run out by 12.08pm UK time today.
Finding the missing submersible in a totally dark environment was likened to discovering a needle in a haystack – and according to experts, even specialist vehicles on the seafloor can only see for a matter of metres.
Commodore David Russell, a former Royal Navy submariner, told Sky News that the evidence suggests that the Titan’s pressure hull failed – and those onboard would have lost their lives instantaneously.
Mr Harding and Mr Nargeolet were members of The Explorers Club – and in a statement, its president Richard Garriott de Cayeux said “our hearts are broken” by the tragedy.
He thanked those involved in the search and rescue effort, adding: “They were both drawn to explore, like so many of us, and did so in the name of meaningful science for the betterment of mankind.
“We’re heartbroken for the families, friends and colleagues of those who were lost. Their memories will be a blessing and will continue to inspire us in the name of science and exploration.”
Frank Skinner’s friend and former radio co-host is thought to still be in a life-threatening condition in hospital.
Mr Skinner broke down in tears on live radio on Saturday, as he explained Gareth Richards is in hospital following a “very big road accident”.
Today police have published a fresh appeal for witnesses to come forward, about the crash which is believed to have left Mr Richards seriously injured.
He was reportedly involved in a serious collision on the M25 near Heathrow Airport on 27 March.
The Metropolitan Police have released a statement saying that a man remains in hospital in a “life-threatening condition” following that collision.
Officers continue to look into the crash.
No arrests have yet been made in connection with the crash but police are asking anyone with any information or dashcam footage of what happened to contact them.
The crash between a lorry and two cars happened on the motorway between Junctions 14 and 15, Surrey Live reported.
Read more UK news: Man killed outside pub after being struck by van Sturgeon dismisses ‘secret lesbian’ claims MP denies ‘banter bouncers’ will be needed if new law approved
‘He’s a fantastic bloke’
During the closing moments of his show on Absolute Radio on Saturday, Mr Skinner recalled how Mr Richards had co-hosted with him and Emily Dean when the show first started out.
Breaking down in tears, he continued: “And Gareth was in a very big road accident this week and… it’s not looking great for Gareth.
“He’s in hospital and he’s fighting but it’s not looking great and I didn’t want to do this show – we didn’t want to do this show without mentioning him…”
He added: “He’s a fantastic bloke and I dunno if any of you do pray, if you do give one for Gareth this week.”
Four Vietnamese nationals who are believed to have been in a mill when it caught fire have been named by police.
Specialist officers began searching Bismark House Mill, in Oldham, Greater Manchester, after human remains were found by demolition workers last month following a blaze on 7 May.
On Friday, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police named four people believed to have been in the mill at the time of the fire, who were reported missing on 21 July.
Image: Uoc van Nguyen
Image: Cuong van Chu
The force said Cuong Van Chu, 39, arrived in the UK in June 2019 and maintained regular contact with his wife and children until 7 May, but his family had not heard from him since.
Uoc Van Nguyen, 31, was also in regular contact with his wife until 7 May, when he said he was in a mill, police said.
Image: Duong van Nguyen
The force spokesman said Duong Van Nguyen, 29, had been in the UK for about a year and last contacted his family about three months ago, when he said he was living in an “abandoned house” and looking for work.
The fourth missing person was named as 21-year-old Nam Thanh Le, who arrived in the UK in January and last contacted his family on 4 May when he said he was living in a derelict house in “Dam”, believed to be Oldham, and looking for work.
More on Greater Manchester
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes said “thoughts remained with their loved ones”.
Image: Pic: Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
Objects of significance
Specially-trained officers had been in contact with them, and they were being “fully updated and supported in Vietnam, as they would be in the United Kingdom,” he said, adding the search of Bismark House Mill was continuing to “ensure the recovery of all human remains and any objects of significance”.
He continued: “Though we have reason to suspect Cuong, Uoc, Duong and Nam may have been in the mill during the fire, we are keeping an open mind in regard to how many people were present.”
Det Supt Hughes appealed for anyone with information about any other people who may have been present to come forward, stressing “their safety and welfare is our number one priority”.
He added: “We also continue to appeal for information about the fire or activities at the mill beforehand.”
Anyone with information should contact Greater Manchester Police via 101 quoting Operation Logan or submit information in English or Vietnamese via the Major Incident Public Portal at mipp.police.uk.
Information can also be shared anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
