Clifton Suspension Bridge reopens as manhunt continues - here's what we know so far

Why did Clifton Suspension Bridge close?

Avon and Somerset Police received a report of a man acting suspiciously on the landmark on Wednesday night (July 10).

Upon arrival, the man had left the area leaving the suitcase behind and a second suitcase was found nearby shortly after.

An investigation was launched by the Major Crime Investigation Team as the suitcases are believed to contain human remains, and Clifton Suspension Bridge was closed yesterday (July 11).

After the significant progress made in the last 36 hours, primacy for the investigation, which had been led by officers in the Major Crime Investigation Team, has been handed over to the Metropolitan Police.

Following the forensic post-mortem examinations, the remains found in the two suitcases are believe to belong to two adult men.

There is also a crime scene in place at a location in Shepherd’s Bush.

How has Avon and Somerset Police responded?

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.

“The investigation is being led by our Major Crime Investigation Team and involves specialist officers from across our organisation.

“Our immediate priority is to locate the man who took the suitcases to the bridge, identify the deceased, and inform their next of kin.”

She added: “A search of the area was carried out on the ground with the support of the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard after the discovery.

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”Initial enquiries have established the man was taken to the bridge in a taxi. This vehicle has been seized and the driver is helping us with our enquiries.”

Today (July 12), she added: “We’re able to confirm forensic post-mortem examinations are still being carried out on the remains found within the two suitcases, but they are believed to be of two adult men. It’s important to stress they have not yet been formally identified and efforts to locate and speak to their next of kin are being prioritised.

“The search for the man we released photos of yesterday is now being led by the Met Police.

“We’re very grateful to the public for the way they’ve responded to our appeals for information. Policing relies on the support of the public and we’d like to thank everyone who has contacted us to supply information or help in some way. We’ve had more than 160 messages through our Major Incident Room phone number and our online portal.

“We’d also like to thank residents for their patience for any disruption caused by the Closure of Clifton Suspension Bridge. The bridge re-opened earlier today following the completion of our enquiries and the removal of the cordon.

“Despite the investigation being transferred to the Met Police, our Neighbourhood Policing teams will continue to carry out high-visibility engagement patrols in the Clifton and Leigh Woods area over the coming days and we have a mobile police station located next to the Clifton Suspension Bridge (Clifton side).”

Are there any suspects?

Detectives investigating the case have released an image of a man they want to speak to.

The man wanted in connection with the incident is believed to have travelled to the Clifton area from London earlier on Wednesday before taking a taxi to Clifton Suspension Bridge where the suitcases were unloaded.

He is described as Black with a beard. He was wearing a black Adidas baseball cap, black jeans, a black jacket, black trainers with thick white soles and had a black backpack.

There is no information to suggest he remains in the Avon and Somerset area.

If anyone sees this man, do not approach him and instead call 999, quoting reference 5224180010 to the call handler.

How have locals responded to the investigation?

Andrea Malizia (64) who has lived near the bridge for over 20 years said: "It was after the England game - I was watching a film around midnight when I remember first hearing a helicopter circling.

"It was circling for quite a while - I remember finishing my film and starting another in that time - it was flying very low.

"Then [yesterday] morning I woke up and was told the bridge was closed and then of course, found out what happened a couple hours [later].

"Unfortunately we have lots of incidents related to the bridge anyways, it’s terrible - and there is so much surveillance on it, they have guards so surely there will be footage of him out there."

Graziella Licata (51) runs Bristol Ice Cream and serves from her van next to the bridge each day, and said the news was “absolutely awful”, and added: “I got down here at around 11 [yesterday] morning and it was just so quiet - to be honest it [was] so so quiet in the area all day, no comings or goings at all.

“It’s scary - when I woke up [yesterday] morning and heard the bridge had closed, I immediately thought ‘this must be really bad’ because they never ever close it.

“And then when we heard what happened we were just completely shocked.

“We hope the families of the victim or victims are informed quickly and they get some closure as soon as possible - that’s the main thing.

“We really hope the man is caught as quickly as possible as well, it’s terrifying.”

Clifton Suspension Bridge today (July 12)

Clifton Suspension Bridge has reopened today (July 12) to all vehicles and one footway is open for use by pedestrians as bridge works continue.

The Visitor Centre continues to be closed this morning.

If you have any information which could help the investigation, please call 101 and quote reference number 5224180010.