Police Issue Update On ‘Severed Head’ Found In Street As Victim Named
Police have issued an update after a severed head was found in the street during Halloween celebrations.
Emergency services were called to the busy Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, at around 8pm on Saturday, November 2.
A number of roads were closed and people in nearby bars were asked to leave the area.
Disturbing videos and images soon began circulating on social media, prompting authorities to issue a serious warning to the public.
Tragically, it was confirmed that a 74-year-old man had died at the scene.
Alarming footage soon began to spread online, appearing to show the victim’s head lying in the road, as partygoers unwittingly enjoyed the festivities nearby.
Some members of the public even appeared to mistake the horrifying scene for a Halloween prank.
Police have since urged people not to share the videos, as they are causing significant distress to the victim’s grieving family.
Ch Insp Trisha Clark addressed the situation, as per Edinburgh Live, saying: “We are aware of videos and images circulating on social media which are causing distress to the deceased’s family and those viewing them inadvertently.
“We would ask members of the public not to share them out of respect for his family, and to report them to the relevant social media platform to prevent further circulation.”
Authorities have now confirmed that the victim was decapitated after being hit by a bus.
Investigators believe he was struck by the single-decker vehicle at 7.25pm and suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of the crash.
Reporter James Delaney, who witnessed the scene, told BBC News an extensive police cordon was quickly put in place.
“Inside were two forensic tents, probably about 100m apart,” he said.
“The Cowgate is usually jumping on a Saturday night, but the bars and pubs inside the cordon had been closed.
“We saw about a dozen or so people in white forensic suits, and there were a few guys in suits too who I assume were detectives.”
Ch Insp Clark reassured the public that the incident was isolated and posed no wider threat.
“There has been a lot of speculation, and I would like to reassure the local community that this was an isolated incident and there is no risk to the wider public,” she said.
Authorities further emphasized the severity of the situation, acknowledging the tragedy for the man’s family and the local community, while urging anyone with information to come forward.
The tragic incident disrupted the Halloween weekend celebrations in Edinburgh and pubs and restaurants were evacuated in response.
Revelers who were out enjoying the evening found themselves locked in bars as the area was shut down, with some nightclubs within the police cordon forced to close for the rest of the evening.
As the investigation continued, a strong police presence was seen throughout the night, and road closures were in place for several hours.
By Sunday morning, investigators had lifted the cordon, and floral tributes began appearing at the scene as the community showed their respects.
In addition to the tragic nature of the incident, rumors began circulating on social media, falsely suggesting that local nightclub owner John ‘Mick’ McWilliams, who owns the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh, was the victim.
In an attempt to clear up the confusion, McWilliams posted a video on social media, confirming that he was not involved.
“Good morning everyone, it’s 11.45am and yes, I am still alive. My condolences go out to whoever did die in the Grassmarket last night. Social media, such a dangerous thing. This has upset so many people,” he stated in the video, as per the Mirror.
While the spread of false information is concerning, the focus of the investigation remains on the tragic crash.
Police have continued to conduct inquiries into the incident, with road policing officers working alongside local officers to gather more information.
Ch Insp Clark reiterated the importance of public assistance, as per North Edinburgh News, saying: “This was a tragic incident. We are investigating a crash, and our road policing officers, assisted by local officers, are continuing to carry out inquiries.
“Anyone with concerns or any information which could assist the investigation should contact police.”
The force also shared the tragic detail that members of the deceased’s family found out about the incident on social media.
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