Kersal Dale murder latest: Men charged with murder after 'headless torso' discovery

Thanks for following this blog as we followed the latest updates from the Greater Manchester Police. We will now be stopping our live coverage. 

The crime scenes where human remains were uncovered this weekend remain cordoned off by police.

Police tape remains up while evidence markers can be spotted at the scene in Linnyshaw Colliery Wood.

More than 100 officers searched the area for 12 days looking for evidence, working with an underwater search team and dogs.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes acknowledged the distress that the grisly discovery had had on the Salford community and on his officers as well.

Detective Superintendent Hughes, of GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation.

“I also recognise the details of this case will have been particularly distressing for the people of Salford and beyond, including our officers who have worked diligently to progress this investigation, and most importantly, to the man’s heartbroken family.

“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas and we will provide updates when we have information.”

Mr Hughes said the force is still appealing to local communities to report anything suspicious they may have seen, heard or witnessed in the crime scene areas.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting log number 2695 of 04/04/2024, and information can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

The man whose body parts were found in three separate locations across Manchester is understood to have died in late March.

Police say they have found evidence at the man's house in Winton, Salford, that suggested the timing of his death. 

He is thought to have lived with the two men currently in police custody.

Detective Superintendent Hughes said that it was too early to speculate on a motive.

Photos show officers clad in protective gear examining the crime scene for more evidence. 

Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes said they were looking at four crime scenes in Salford and the Greater Manchester area.

The first remains - consisting of the bottom of the back, buttocks and thigh - were found in clear plastic by a passer-by at Kersal Dale Wetlands in Salford on 4 April.

Further human remains were uncovered by police at Blackleach Reservior and also in Linneyshaw Colliery Wood, where a dog walker found human remains in packaging.

Officers from the GMP said that the victim is believed to have known two men who are currently in custody.

Two men, aged 42 and 68, from Salford, were arrested on suspicion of murder on 25 April, GMP said, after officers trawled through hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.

The 42-year-old was arrested after officers stormed a bus in Eccles Old Road around midday.

The other man was later arrested at an address in Worsley Road.

A 20-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of murder was later released on bail pending further inquiries.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the human remains - which were spread over three different locations - all belonged to the same man. 

In a news conference today, police said they believe the torso belongs to a man in his 60s and they have informed his family about his death.

However, the GMP have not yet identified him publicly.

We'll be bringing you all the latest updates after more human remains were found in two locations as part of Salford torso inquiry