Police have launched a murder investigation after human bones were found in two black bin bags dumped in a Suffolk river.
Officers were called following the discovery in the River Stour between Meadow Gates and Croft Bridge in Sudbury on Thursday afternoon.
Police said the bones were confirmed to be human remains and “due to the suspicious circumstances in which they were found, detectives are treating this as a murder investigation”.
The bags were discovered at the river’s edge by a wildlife ranger, who moved them onto dry land before calling 999.
Inspector Kevin Horton, local policing commander for Sudbury, said: “We appreciate that local residents are likely to find this discovery alarming and as such we will be increasing police patrols in the town to provide reassurance.
“Officers are also likely to remain at the scene over the weekend and into the early part of next week.
“Discoveries such as this are extremely rare – especially in Suffolk – and as such we do not believe there is any cause for concern to members of the public.”
Suffolk Police said in an earlier statement: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity close to the river, where a submerged shopping trolley and the bags containing the bones were discovered nearby.
“Alternatively, anyone who has seen the bags in the river or knows how they came to be in the water or who uses the route regularly is asked to come forward with any relevant information.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
