Police have ‘confidently’ confirmed the identity of a man murdered in Salford after more remains were found as part of the investigation into a male torso discovered in a nearby nature reserve, with other body parts since located at another two nearby spots.
The victim, now believed to be a man in his 60s, was initially discovered in Kersal Wetlands after a passerby stumbled across the remains on 4 April, with police setting up a forensic tent and a large cordon around the area.
Having swept the surroundings and acted on further intelligence, more human remains were also found at Blackleach Reservoir in Walkden and a local dog walker also found a package containing body parts at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods on Saturday evening (27 April).
It is thought that the identity of the latest body parts should be fully confirmed this week following further forensic tests but the authorities have now contacted the victim’s next of kin.
#UPDATE | Following developments this weekend in #Salford we are confident we have identified the victim, with his family being supported since.
This is after further human remains were found, with two men remaining in custody for questioning.
The as-yet-unknown man is said to have died a number of days before his torso was discovered at the start of the month and multiple individuals have been arrested in connection to the case over the last few weeks.
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A 20-year-old man from the local area was brought in for questioning just four days after the initial discovery, along with a 42-year-old who was detained after he boarded a bus earlier last week and a 68-year-old who was arrested at a property in Winton.
Searches were also carried out at a Warehouse in Bury with household items being found there. Greater Manchester Police say they still have two people, both thought to be known to the victim, in custody.
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Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for the case, issued a full statement to the media this weekend, insisting that GMP are “very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.
He also went on to reveal that authorities are also searching the house in Winton as it is thought to be “where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived”, with evidence also indicating that he is likely to have died there sometime in late March.
DSI Hughes went on to add: “While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation.
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“I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.
“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”
Trafford Centre begins months-long refurb of its iconic The Orient foodhall
Emily Sergeant
A new era for The Orient is on the horizon, as the Trafford Centre has begun its months-long refresh of its iconic foodhall.
Forming part of its ongoing commitment to ‘enhancing the visitor experience’, the Trafford Centre is investing in a major refresh of seating and customer facilities within The Orient – creating a more vibrant and welcoming environment for guests to eat, meet and relax.
Works are now underway and will be delivered in phases over the coming months.
Improvements are being carried out in phases to minimise disruption to shoppers, while creating a more comfortable and contemporary dining environment at the same time.
The refreshed area will increase seating capacity by more than 60%, introducing a range of new seating styles in the process – including banquettes, family-friendly tables, accessible seating for guests with mobility requirements, and dedicated areas equipped with phone and laptop charging facilities.
The Trafford Centre begins months-long refurb of its iconic The Orient foodhall / Credit: The Manc Group
Inspired by The Orient’s longstanding maritime heritage, the design takes cues from a contemporary cruise liner, and the space will also feature upgraded furniture and enhanced lighting, alongside flexible areas designed to encourage visitors to spend more time in there.
There’ll also be modern furnishings and a ‘refreshed’ colour palette to create a brighter and welcoming environment.
“The Orient is one of the most popular destinations within Trafford Centre, welcoming millions of visitors each year,” a Trafford Centre spokesperson said on the refurb.
“This investment reflects our commitment to continually improving the experience for our guests, creating a more modern, comfortable and social environment where visitors can meet, dine and spend time together.
“The improvements will not only significantly increase seating capacity but also deliver a much more flexible and accessible space for all visitors to enjoy.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Uber has officially started trialling driverless taxis in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… driverless taxis have hit the streets of Manchester.
As the leading transportation company looks to bring robotaxis to other major cities around the UK, it has been confirmed that a trial of autonomous vehicles is now underway in Manchester – with the services being operated using the technology of Uber’s partner firms, Pony and Verne.
Uber said it was ‘excited’ to take this first step toward ‘making this technology accessible’ to people across the UK.
The three companies first collaborated on the deployment of a commercial robotaxi service back in March of this year, combining Pony.ai’s autonomous driving system, Uber’s global mobility platform, and Verne’s service ecosystem and operational framework.
At this time, there has been no official application to launch passenger services in Manchester, according to The Guardian.
However, posts on various social media platforms – such as X, LinkedIn, and Instagram – by each of the companies this week have confirmed that trials are underway in the city.
“New technologies play an increasingly important role in the growth of our city region,” TfGM said. “But they need to be introduced responsibly, safely and with real thought about what it means for our residents.
“Safety will always be our top priority, and we will need strong assurances that no vehicles will operate on our roads that pose any risk to residents.”
Manchester, we’re on our way! Today, we’re announcing that we’re partnering with @Verne_robotaxi and @PonyAI_tech to pilot autonomous vehicles in Manchester. Building on our service together in Zagreb, Gen-7 Robotaxis are now testing in Manchester.
We’re excited to take this first step toward making this technology accessible to people across the UK. 🇬🇧
“By bringing together Pony.ai’s proven autonomous driving technology, Verne’s operational and market expertise, and Uber’s global platform, we’re taking an important step toward making autonomous ride-hailing available to more riders in more places.”
Danny Jones -
29th April 2024 
