Police treating discovery of man's body in Bedford Square as 'suspicious'

Thursday March 25, 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS

DETECTIVES and forensics teams have been combing the flowerbeds and grassy area of a Bloomsbury square after the body of man was discovered this morning (Thursday). Police have described the death as suspicious. 

The man, thought to be around 25 to 30 years old - was found around 9am this morning in Bedford Square, near to a shed used by gardeners for the upkeep of the green. 

Police have cordoned off the area and officers are due to hand the investigation to the Homicide and Serious Crime Command later today. 

Office workers close to the upmarket square speculated today that many must have walked past the body unaware on their way in to work.

One, whose window overlooks the square, said the first she knew of the drama was the sight of police and a pair of feet poking out from underneath a red blanket.  "We realised it was bad because there was no ambulance, just police," she added.

UPDATED Monday March 29, 2010

A POST-MORTEM on the body, carried out on Friday, was inconclusive and detectives are awaiting further tests. The death is still being treated as suspicious. Police believe they know who the man is and officers are expected to confirm his identity as soon as relatives have been located and informed.