Specialist teams are continuing to search a demolished mill in Oldham after human remains relating to two victims were found.
Pictures taken at the Bismark House Mill on Bower Street this morning (Wednesday) showed crime scene investigators, fire crews and Greater Manchester Police's specialist operations incident command unit at the scene. Multiple emergency services vehicles were stationed at the site with a large screen in place around much of the mill.
A major search is ongoing to find any further human remains, after the remains of two bodies were uncovered. The first was discovered by demolition workers on Saturday, July 23, prompting a major incident to be declared.
READ MORE: The week that saw a small Oldham community rocked by tragedy
This was just two days after Greater Manchester Police received a tip that four Vietnamese nationals had been missing since May 7 - the date of a huge blaze at the mill. At the time, fire crews believed nobody was inside.
They spent four days extinguishing the flames before demolition work started on the building. The remains of a second victim were then found on Wednesday, July 27.
The M.E.N understands the force were alerted about the missing people by a Catholic church in London, after they were contacted by a family in Vietnam who hadn't heard from their son since May 7. Assistant chaplain at the Vietnamese Catholic Community, Father Anthony Nguyen Tri said he was contacted by the man's family who wanted to know if their son was 'dead or alive'.
Detectives from GMP's Major Incident Team have warned that the body count may still rise, as they remain 'conscious of the report we received, on Thursday 21 July 2022, that four Vietnamese nationals were missing and may have been involved in a fire.'
A local MP warned the police investigation could take 'many weeks' as officials from from the Vietnamese embassy were also drafted in to help with the investigation and to assist with identifying the deceased. The Deputy Ambassador to the UK was pictured at the demolition site speaking to police and fire crews.
Detectives are understood to be exploring the possibility that human trafficking could have played a part in the tragedy. Another line of enquiry is thought to be that a section of the mill was being used to farm cannabis as multiple sources said the site was being used to grow the class B drug.
Anyone who is concerned about a missing loved one or who has information about the circumstances surrounding the fire, including activity at the premises before the seventh of May, should contact 101 or use the GMP website. Information can also be submitted via the Major Incident Public Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Anyone who would like to remain anonymous can share information via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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