"It's like something off a TV series": Horror as man's body parts found scattered across Salford

"It's like something off a TV series," remarked one Salford resident after hearing that human remains had been found around the corner from his home.

A horrified dog walker had uncovered a package containing body parts at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods, in Walkden, on Saturday evening. A mile down the road at Blackleach Reservoir, another grim discovery was about to be made by police divers.

The two beauty spots were swiftly cordoned off by police as search teams worked throughout the night. By Sunday morning, four separate cordons were in place across Greater Manchester - at a country park, a house, a commercial unit and woodland.

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The widespread police activity was part of a murder investigation launched after a human torso was found wrapped in multiple sheets of cellophane at Kersal Dale in Salford on April 4.

The discovery sent shockwaves across the region as police spent 12 days searching the nature reserve and nearby Kersal Wetlands. However, the search was called off on April 16 with no further body parts having been found and police still unable to identify the victim.

Officers returned to the area last week but a search was again called off when a pungent odour which triggered it was found to be sulphur.

However, a major breakthrough came earlier this week when two men were arrested on suspicion of murder. Officers detained a 42-year-old man after storming a bus on Eccles Old Road, in Salford, at about midday on Thursday. Later that afternoon, a 68-year-old man was arrested at an address on Worsley Road. The suspects remain in police custody for questioning.

This morning, police announced that they had widened their search following "further breakthroughs", with four crime scenes in place across the region. They included Blackleach Reservoir and nearby Linnyshaw Colliery Wood, as well as a semi-detached property in Worsley Road in the Winton area of Eccles, and a warehouse in Mitchell Street, Bury.

Forensic officers worked throughout the day as police said they were closing "the net" on the perpetrators. Pictures showed scene of crime officers working in the back garden of the house in Winton earlier while underwater search teams and police sniffer dogs were spotted at Blackleach Country Park, where a large portion of the park at one end of the park's reservoir was cordoned off. Officers were seen tramping through woodland.

In an update to reporters at a press conference from the scene at Blackleach Country Park this evening, Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes revealed that further human remains had been discovered during the mammoth search effort.

The force refused to specify which body parts were found, but said they are believed to belong to the same person as the torso found at Kersal Dale.

Police have now revealed that the victim is thought to be a man in his 60s from Salford. Although formal ID has not yet taken place, his family have been informed of the discovery and are currently being supported by specialist officers.

It is expected identification will take place within the next week. GMP have previously said the man is white and believed to be European.

Detective Hughes said that it is thought the victim was residing in the same house as the suspects, although they were not related. He was also revealed that the victim had likely died at the house in Winton in late March.

Police are keeping an 'open mind' with regards to the investigation but are not currently looking for any other suspects and said they are 'confident' that they have the right men in custody to be questioned.

Detective Hughes said officers also searched a warehouse in Mitchell Street, Bury after household items were discovered there, but "there was no information that anybody who owns or works there is in any way involved in any criminality regarding this offence".

He said: "Today we have found human remains at the reservoir, and last night, a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Linnyshaw Colliery Wood. Forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains they are, but we are very confident that it is the same victim.

"We have also been searching a house in Winton, where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived. We have found evidence to show the victim died there, most likely in late March.

"While this is significant progress, we know that there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. I also recognise the details of this case will be particularly distressing to the people of Salford, and beyond, and most importantly to the man's heartbroken family. Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas and we will provide updates when we have information.”

Mr Hughes said the force is still appealing to local communities to report anything suspicious they may have seen, heard or witnessed in the crime scene areas.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting log number 2695 of 04/04/2024, and information can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.