Police have taped off a park in Salford as the search continues in a gruesome murder probe.
A police cordon has been put in place at Blackleach Country Park in Walkden. The Manchester Evening News understands that this is part of an investigation launched earlier this month after body parts wrapped in cellophane were found at Kersal Dale by a passer-by.
Two men were arrested earlier this week following the discovery of the human remains at the nature reserve in Salford on April 4. It came after a passer-by found, in plain sight, the lower back, buttocks, and a thigh of a man wrapped in cellophane, near a footpath.
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The victim was white and believed to be aged 40-plus. Police are still questioning the men who were arrested on Thursday (April 25).
Police tapped off Blackleach Country Park on Saturday afternoon (April 27). Local residents claim divers were seen entering the water.
The M.E.N. understands that the search is part of GMP’s Kersal Dale murder investigation. It follows a 12-day search of Kersal Dale and nearby Kersal Wetlands with 100 GMP officers deployed and another search last weekend following reports of a pungent odour.
The smell which prompted police to resume their search was later found to be sulphur. No further body parts have been found.
The reservoir at Blackleach Country Park remains taped off this morning (April 28). Police are expected to continue their search throughout the day.
Follow our live blog below for the latest updates as we get them.
10:44Joseph Timan
Underwater search
Several police vehicles are at the scene, including one from the North West’s Underwater Search and Marine Unit.
10:29Joseph Timan
Area ‘off limits’
The police seem to be concentrating on one corner of the park. Dog walkers have been told the area is off limits.
10:16Joseph Timan
Our reporter is at the scene
M.E.N. reporter John Scheerhout is at Blackleach Country Park where a police cordon is in place around the reservoir
10:04Joseph Timan
Suspects still being questioned
Two men were arrested this week as part of the investigation. Officers stormed a bus on Eccles Old Road on Thursday (April 25) and arrested a 42-year-old man on suspicion of murder before arresting a 68-year-old man on Worsley Road.
According to GMP, both suspects are known to each other. The M.E.N. understands they are still being questioned.
Yesterday (April 27), crime scene investigators were seen outside the address in Worsley Road where one of the men was arrested on suspicion of murder. Pictures show forensic officers at the Eccle property with GMP vehicles lining the road.
Early on in the investigation, a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but was released under investigation.
09:50Joseph Timan
Three body parts found so far
The human remains discovered at Kersal Dale were a lower back, buttocks, and thigh, all wrapped in multiple sheets of cellophane. A passer-by saw the remains in plain sight near a footpath at the Salford nature reserve at 5.50pm on April 4.
On April 16, police called off a major search of the location and the nearby Kersal Wetlands after twelve days. Last weekend, the search resumed but was called off when a pungent odour which triggered it was found to be sulphur.
No further body parts have been found so far. Yesterday (April 27), police tapped off Blackleach Country Park in Walkden.
Local residents claim divers entered the water. The M.E.N. understands that this is part of the Kersal Dale murder probe.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
