Leeds body found: what happened as human remains discovered in Skelton Skips at Leeds recycling site

Workers were horrified to find ‘body parts’ at Skelton Skips shortly after 10 am on Halloween
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An investigation has been launched after human remains were found at Skelton Skips recycling centre in Leeds. Workers were reportedly horrified to find “body parts” shortly after 10 am on Halloween (Monday 31 October).

Specialist forensic teams have been combing the scene for clues, with Leeds Live reporting that they were focussing their search around a conveyor belt on the site.

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West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that the body parts were discovered just before 10 am on Monday 31 October at waste recycling centre on Knowsthorpe Way in Leeds. In a statement, they said: “police received a report of human remains having been found at a waste recycling firm.”

One recycling worker, who did not wish to be named, told The Sun: “As far as I know body parts have been found in one of the skips.”

The incident has caused shock and alarm across the community, here’s everything you need to know about what happened and what we know so far.

Human remains have been discovered at Skelton Skips recycling centre in Leeds (Pic: AFP via Getty Images)Human remains have been discovered at Skelton Skips recycling centre in Leeds (Pic: AFP via Getty Images)
Human remains have been discovered at Skelton Skips recycling centre in Leeds (Pic: AFP via Getty Images)

Where was the body found in Leeds?

The human remains were found by workers at Skelton Skips on Knowsthorpe Way in Leeds, West Yorkshire on Monday 31 October, just before 10am.

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West Yorkshire Police received a call regarding the discovery, with officers and forensic teams visiting the site to investigate the circumstances of death. It has not yet been confirmed whether the remains are that of an adult or a child.

Police and specialist forensic teams have been combing the scene for clues at the recycling plant in Knowsthorpe Way, with Leeds Live reporting that they are focussing their search around a conveyor belt on the site.

One worker who did not wish to be named told The Sun : “As far as I know body parts have been found in one of the skips. Obviously, once it was spotted the police were immediately called. It’s very disturbing and shocking and sad and scary.”

Whilst local media company YappApp shared footage of the police presence at the recycling plant on social media.

What have the police said?

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In a statement reported by ITV, West Yorkshire Police confirmed: “At 9.57am today, police received a report of human remains having been found at a waste recycling firm, in Knowsthorpe Way, Leeds. Officers are attending the scene to assess the remains and establish the circumstances.”

Has this happened before?

This is not the first time that human remains have been found at Skelton Skips recycling plant on Knowsthorpe Way, in Leeds. In June 2018 the body of a young male was also discovered by workers in a skip when it was in the process of being emptied.

A statement from the West Yorkshire Police reported by The Yorkshire Post at the time said: “The body of a young male, aged approximately in his 20s, was located when one of the skips was in the process of being emptied. At this time we are trying to establish the circumstances of what has happened.”

Information around what happened in that case is not available at this time.