Burned body found in ‘highly reclusive’ family’s garden after neighbours hear screams
Two people have been arrested after police found the burned body of a man in the back garden of a ‘highly reclusive’ family’s home.
Neighbours on the quiet cul-de-sac in Bradford reported hearing screaming before seeing smoke billowing from behind the detached house.
Pictures show charring in the garden of the property, with fire damage visible to some of the ground floor windows.
Residents in the close said an elderly man, thought to be in his 80s, lived at the house with his younger wife and her son.
Some said they believed the elderly man may have died during the pandemic because they have not seen him since.
One, named Mohammed, told MailOnline he heard another shouting that a ‘body was on fire’.
He said: ‘There was smoke coming from the garden but we couldn’t get in because the gate was bolted shut.
‘We tried to force the gate open and we could see blood and that a mangled body was there.’
‘I couldn’t believe it, it was like something out of a horror film.’
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the outlet: ‘The family literally never venture out, they are highly reclusive.
‘This has happened completely out of the blue and everybody is very shocked by it.’
Police today said they had identified the body as an adult male but were still trying to formally identify the man and trace his next of kin.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Holdsworth said: ‘From the information known at this time, we are treating this as a murder investigation.
‘My team are working to establish the circumstances that led to the man’s death. We have two people in custody and are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
‘This has taken place in what is usually a quiet residential street.
‘I understand that this incident has caused concern in the wider community and there is a lot of speculation about what has taken place and those involved. We need anyone with information to be passing that on to us.
‘We are conducting house to house enquiries and CCTV trawls in the area, and I would urge anyone with information, who has not already spoken to the police, to please make contact.
‘The property backs on to Goals sports complex, King’s Road, Bradford, and we are also urging anyone who was using the pitches yesterday afternoon who may have seen or heard anything out of the ordinary to please report it.’
Fire crews, police and paramedics were all sent to the scene with neighbours telling that they had never seen such a large emergency service presence before.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews extinguished a fire inside the property.
One said: ‘Every kind of emergency service has attended since around 3.30pm this afternoon.’
Locals said they were made to abandon their cars at the end of the road.
Labour local councillor Simon Cunningham said: ‘This has been a very shocking incident for what is a very quiet and peaceful community.’
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