Video: Double murder hunt after two bodies are found on country lane near Bradford estate

A DOUBLE murder hunt was under way in Bradford today after the bodies of two men were found on an isolated road late last night. Police believe they may have been attacked and dumped there.

The bodies were discovered by a passing motorist in New Lane, just a mile or two from the city’s sprawling Holme Wood estate, shortly before 10.30pm yesterday.

Detective Superintendent Dick Nuttall, of West Yorkshire Police, said the two victims were in their mid-20s to 30s and his team of officers were trying to establish their identities.

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He said no weapons had been recovered and would not comment on reports that the two men had been beaten. He also said he did not want to speculate on their nationalities until they had been identified.

He said: “We are also examining the possibility that these bodies were left on New Lane following an attack.

“I am particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was in the area of New Lane or Raikes Lane at the time or saw anything suspicious to come forward immediately.

“This is a rural and quiet area of Bradford and people may have noticed any unusual activity, especially at this time of night.

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“At this stage we have not recovered any weapons; however, forensic officers are currently examining the scene.”

He said officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team would be patrolling the area to offer reassurance and speak to residents about any concerns.

This morning, police cordons were in place at either end of New Lane - each more than 200m from the scene.

At the junction of New Lane and the A58 Tong Lane, a police van and a police car guarded the entrance but there was little sign of activity and the scene was not visible.

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The area where the bodies were found is open countryside - green meadows with pockets of woodland - just a mile or two from the suburbs of south Bradford.

Locals speculated that they may have been dumped.

Alice Avery said: “It’s a quiet area. So you just don’t know what goes on at night time round here, do you?”

Speaking at the cordon, Mr Nuttall said: “We are looking at the possibility this is not a random attack.

“These men may have been brought here after an attack elsewhere.”

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The detective was asked whether he thought the killings were gang-related but he said it was far too early to speculate.

Mr Nuttall said: “Inquiries at the moment are focused on identifying the two men and establishing the circumstances in which they came to be found in New Lane.”

He said New Lane was a “well-used cut-through” between the A58 and the Holme Wood Estate.

Asked about the men’s racial origins and nationalities, the officer said: “Until we identify the individuals, I cannot speculate on their country of origin.”

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He also refused to answer repeated questions about the nature of the men’s injuries.

Despite Mr Nuttall stressing that this was a quiet area unused to crimes of this nature, the scene is just a few hundred yards from a lay-by in Tong where a man was shot dead in a drug-related killing in 2002.