Police have launched photographs of the person they wish to discover after two suitcases containing human stays have been discovered on Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.

A person was seen with a suitcase appearing suspiciously on the bridge simply earlier than midnight on Wednesday.

When officers arrived lower than 10 minutes later, he had left, leaving the suitcase behind, and a short while later a second suitcase was discovered.

Avon and Somerset Police has launched a manhunt to seek out the suspect, who’s described as black with a beard and a gold earring.

Officers say he was sporting a black Adidas baseball cap, black denims, a black jacket, black trainers with thick white soles and had a black backpack.

Officers are asking members of the general public to name 0800 056 0944 in the event that they will help.

Preliminary inquiries established the person was taken to the bridge in a taxi, the power mentioned.

The taxi driver’s car has been seized and he’s serving to officers.

A witness informed the BBC he noticed suitcases on the bridge whereas a bike owner chased off an individual regarded as the suspect.

Talking at a press convention this afternoon, Cdr Vicks Haywood-Melen mentioned the police have been asking anybody who could recognise the person to get in contact.

“It is a very disturbing incident and I absolutely recognise the priority it’ll trigger in our communities.

“Our rapid precedence is to find the person who took the suitcases to the bridge, establish the deceased and inform their subsequent of kin,” she mentioned.

She added the person was seen heading off to Leigh Woods and searches utilizing CCTV have been ongoing.

The police helicopter was tracked over the bridge on Wednesday night time.

Officers manning the Bristol facet of the Suspension Bridge are turning pedestrians away from the scene.

The guests centre has additionally been shut to permit the investigation to proceed.

Cdr Hayward-Melen added: “Our rapid precedence is to find the person who took the suitcases to the bridge, establish the deceased, and inform their subsequent of kin.

“Specialist officers are prepared to offer them with any assist they want.”

She added {that a} autopsy examination would happen afterward Thursday.

Reece Wright, a 20-year-old College of Bristol pupil, noticed a few of the commotion on the bridge.

He mentioned it was a “scary expertise”. He described seeing suitcases left on the bridge whereas a bike owner chased somebody, regarded as the suspect.

“It was all very sudden. I used to be making an attempt to rationalise it.

“I assumed somebody had had a struggle after which noticed the suitcase and thought it was bizarre.

“We saved on strolling throughout via the Leigh Woods half in the direction of Burwalls after we noticed one other suitcase, a silver one.”

Carla Denyer, the brand new Inexperienced MP for Bristol Central, mentioned she has been left “deeply disturbed” by the “horrifying” incident.

Talking on X, she mentioned: “Distressing occasions like this are unsettling for all of us who name Bristol residence and are happy with our metropolis.”

She thanked police for his or her swift motion, including she was in contact with authorities.