Missing person list checked after ‘leg’ discovered in river
POLICE were checking a list of missing people after human remains – believed to be a leg – were recovered from the River Irwell.
The force says ‘inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.’
The alarm was raised just before 9am yesterday by a passerby.
Emergency services were scrambled to a stretch of the river near the red Jubilee Bridge, off Britannia Street, Salford. The North West Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit was also sent. A large cordon was erected as the investigation began.
The bridge was closed off, with officers standing guard.
The Jubilee bridge spans the river from Littleton Road playing fields at Lower Kersal to the Whit Lane area of the city.
Police divers were seen entering the water, while officers were seen trawling the banks of the river.
Witnesses said two black bags were later placed in a van by police after being pulled from the water.
Witness Stacey Sherratt, 29, said: “I first heard the sirens at around 11am, so I came outside and saw a boat pulling up two black bags. I saw someone pulling a rope to bring the boat back in and then they put the two bags on the floor and put them in a van.”
Police have released few details about the incident.
A GMP spokesman said: “Shortly before 9am on Wednesday, November 28, police were called to a report that suspected human remains had been seen in the River Irwell near to Whit Lane, Pendleton.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.