Suspected body parts pulled from river (From Your Local Guardian)

Suspected body parts pulled from River Wandle in Wimbledon

1:16pm Monday 7th June 2010 in Wimbledon By Ben Thompson

Suspected body parts were pulled from the River Wandle by police divers this morning.

Pathologists are assessing whether the heavily decomposed remains, dragged from the river close to Plough Lane, Wimbledon, are human or animal.

A passer-by walking along the river bank alerted police at 9.30am after spotting something suspicious in the water way next to the former site of Wimbledon FC’s stadium.

The Metropolitan police’s marine support unit was summoned to the scene where officers sealed off a 200m section of the towpath running up to Plough Lane, alongside the new Sanctuary housing development.

A group of about ten officers, including divers were still at the scene at 12.30pm.

A police spokesman said: “Several items were found and they have been retrieved from the river but it’s too early to say what they are.”

He added that while pathologists are involved a criminal investigation will only begin if the remains prove to be human and the circumstances surrounding the death are deemed suspicious.

More to follow.