Two arrests made over remains found in Kersal Dale

Police have described it as a significant breakthrough

Author: Nathan MarshPublished 25th Apr 2024

Detectives investigating after human remains were found wrapped in plastic in Salford have made two arrests.

On the 5th April 2024, a passer by discovered what turned out to be the bottom part of a back, buttocks, and thigh of a man over the age of 40, in Kersal Dale Wetlands.

Police still haven't been able to identify who the remains belong to.

But in an update today, officers say they have now taken two men from Salford in to custody, where they're due to be questioned on suspicion of murder.

Around midday today (25/04/2024) officers stormed a bus on Eccles Old Road and arrested a 42-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

Later this afternoon, a 68-year-old man was arrested at an address on Worsley Road on suspicion of murder.

The men are believed to be known to each other.

Police are describing the arrests as a "significant breakthrough" in the investigation.

Specialist detectives in GMP’s Major Incident Team have conducted hundreds of hours of CCTV trawls and followed numerous lines of enquiry, leading to them tracing a person of interest and arresting two men from the local area.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes of GMP’s Serious Crime Division said:

“Today’s arrests are undoubtedly a significant step in our investigation, and our focus now is questioning the men in custody, which could be key to finding answers.

“We are continuing to work round the clock looking through every single line of enquiry that we have established, and you may see further searches in the city over the coming days as we work to leave no stone unturned.

“At the centre of our efforts, remains our victim. Our investigation is moving at pace, and we are determined to identify him and find out how he has met this tragic outcome.

“This victim could be a father, brother, son, or cousin. He is a man over the age of 40, with white skin tone, believed to be European, and most likely had blonde or light brown hair and blue eyes.

“We continue to appeal to anyone missing a loved one who matches this description to come forward.

“We are by no means finished with our investigation; we are still in the early stages of finding out what has happened but please be reassured that we are making good progress.

“We still need your help, anyone out there who thinks they know something, or have maybe seen something suspicious in the area – please think about this victim, and a family that will one day hear the most devastating news – come forward for them by calling 101 and quoting log number 2695 of 4 April 2024.