Police believe they have identified all 35 people whose bodies were recovered from a funeral parlour in Hull.
Humberside police said officers had contacted the families of the deceased, although formal identification was continuing.
Detectives said earlier this week that 35 bodies and suspected human ashes had been found at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, sparking an investigation.
In an update on Friday, the force said it was working with experts at the National Crime Agency to establish whether what had been recovered “are in fact human ashes”.
More than 1,500 bereaved people had contacted the police hotline set up as part of the investigation, the force said.
The assistant chief constable Thom McLoughlin said: “I am aware that this has been a worrying time for our communities, and I want to thank them for their help and patience throughout the start of this investigation.
“This has truly been an awful incident and the families are understandably distraught and have many questions, and we are doing everything we possibly can to give them the answers they deserve.”
A 46-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman have been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.
Officers recovered the 35 bodies after raiding Legacy’s funeral home on Hessle Road a week ago over concerns for the care of the deceased.
Detectives are in the process of formally identifying the remains and are understood to have asked possible relatives for DNA samples.
McLoughlin said: “Working in partnership with his majesty’s coroner, I can confirm that whilst formal identification procedures are ongoing, we do believe we have contacted all families of the 35 deceased. My specialist trained officers continue to support the families involved at this extremely difficult time whilst lengthy inquiries are ongoing.
“As a part of our wider investigation, we can confirm specialist experts and advisers from the National Crime Agency are currently assisting senior investigating officers with our investigation, including establishing if what has been respectfully recovered are in fact human ashes.
“A scene guard remains in place on Hessle Road in Hull; however, I can confirm specialist search teams concluded their searches at the business premises [on Thursday].”
