Preliminary tests conducted by a forensic anthropologist yesterday confirmed that the body parts discovered in a New Addington park this week are human, as the Metropolitan Police launched a murder inquiry.

The body parts – some reports suggest a human hand – were discovered on Tuesday morning in Rowdown Field, a park just a short distance away from two schools: Addington Valley Academy and Applegarth Academy.

Both schools are closed for the Easter break, as police homicide teams moved into the park yesterday, taping off large sections as a crime scene.

Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, is leading the investigation. He said: “We are not going to give specific details on our search of the area, but I can confirm that since yesterday we have recovered further remains. After consultation with a forensic anthropologist, we are certain that these are human.

“At this time, our search is not complete, and so local people will continue to see officers in the area.

Crime scene: Rowdown Fields in New Addington is subject to careful police searches

“This is being treated as murder, and we currently believe the remains belong to one victim.

“Samples have been sent away for urgent forensic analysis and I anticipate that a special post-mortem examination will take place later this week.

“Our priority is to identify the victim, but until we are possession of fuller facts, informed by the post-mortem examination we are not in a position to confirm the person’s age, ethnicity, or gender.

“A family has lost their loved one, and as a team, we are focusing on finding them and securing the answers they will need to come to terms with their loss.”

Superintendent Lewis Collins from the South Area Borough Command, said: “This is a very disturbing discovery and over the last day or so, the community in our borough has pulled together to give officers the space they need to carry out this important work.

“We are very appreciative of their support and we continue to ask that speculation on this case is kept to a minimum. We will keep people informed as soon as we have updates to share.”

According to the Met: “A crime scene remains in place in Rowdown Fields and enquiries are ongoing. Officers are not searching any other sites at this stage but we will extend the search, should this be necessary.”

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