UPDATE: Weds, 15:50
Police have now confirmed that the remains discovered in Skelleftehamn are human.
According to their website, nothing at the scene has suggested a crime. The next phase of the investigation will focus on establishing the identity of the deceased.
UPDATE: Weds, 14:45
It was during the morning that what are suspected to be human remains were found by the water.
Two people working at one of the nearby companies were supposed to find out if any material had been blown on to the beach by the wind, but then made another discovery.
– I saw right away that it was a human skull, says one of the people, explaining that they quickly retreated.
– I can't judge how long it had been there, it was just a clean skull and then a femur.
UPDATE: Weds, 13:00
Marcus Danielsson, head of the police's serious crimes department in Västerbotten, confirms to Norran that skeletal parts have been found.
At this time, it has not been determined that these are human skeletal parts.
– I think I will get word during the day whether the parts come from a human or not. Expert personnel will look at what has been found, says Marcus Danielsson.
If the remains come from a human, they will be sent for analysis.
– An identification process then begins.
UPDATE: Weds, 11:50
At 0800 on Wednesday morning, police were alerted to suspected human remains that had washed ashore in Skelleftehamn.
Officers attended the scene to begin their investigation, and the area has been cordoned off. Witness interviews have also been conducted, stated Elisabeth Glaas, press spokesperson for the police.
– The aim is to confirm that these are indeed human remains and to understand the circumstances surrounding their discovery, she explained.
Currently, there are no suspects.
A local worker informed Norran that police have been present and working throughout the morning.
– It appears the remains have been there for some time, the individual commented on the discovery.
Skellefteå Police are operating under the working hypothesis that the discovered remains belong to someone previously reported missing.
However, police sources emphasise that this is merely a preliminary theory. The ongoing investigation and meticulous analysis of the recovered remains are expected to yield definitive answers.
Standard procedure in such cases involves initially classifying the incident as murder or manslaughter. This allows the police to access a comprehensive range of investigative techniques typically employed in suspected serious crimes.
Marcus Danielsson, head of the serious crimes unit for the Västerbotten police, informed Norran:
– This classification reflects the fact that we cannot currently exclude the possibility of a crime. Our immediate focus is on securing the finds and the location and confirming whether they are human remains. Identification efforts will commence thereafter.
Danielsson also told SVT News Västerbotten that the police believe these are the remains of a human being, specifying:
– These are skeletal parts.
Danielsson says that the police "have been in contact with relatives in cases involving people who have been reported missing."
This story will be updated