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Children find human head on beach Children find human head on beach
(about 2 hours later)
A woman's head, hidden inside a plastic bag, has been found by children playing on a beach in Angus.A woman's head, hidden inside a plastic bag, has been found by children playing on a beach in Angus.
A human hand was later discovered by police officers, who had cordoned off the area near South Street, Arbroath. A human hand was also discovered about 50 yards away from the head on Seagate beachfront in Arbroath.
The head was found by two young sisters at about 1030 BST. They ran home and their mother called the police. Two young sisters found the head at about 1030 BST. They ran home and their mother called the police.
A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said the force was now attempting to identify the woman. A specialist team is searching the beach. A Tayside Police spokeswoman said the force was attempting to identify the woman. It is not known if the body parts were washed up or dumped.
"Scenes of crime officers are in attendance and an extensive search of the beachfront is continuing at this time," the spokeswoman said. As many as 40 officers were involved in searching the stony beach for evidence.
"The items are being removed and will be subject to further detailed forensic examination." The body parts were removed from the scene at about 1800 BST.
'Tragic mystery''Tragic mystery'
She confirmed that officers had been alerted to the children's "grim discovery" shortly after 1030 BST. The officer leading the investigation said the forensic examinations to follow would be "fairly painstaking". Detective Chief Inspector Graham McMillan said recent heavy rains in the area made it difficult to tell how long - if at all - the head had been in thewater.
"They found what appears to be the head of a woman concealed in a plastic bag," she added. But he said inquiries would be thorough, with investigations continuing intothe night.
"A hand has also been recovered from the beach. It is understood that they belong to a woman." He said: "We will shortly be conducting a more detailed examination of thebody part which will be a fairly painstaking process."
DCI McMillan said the children who found the remains were "fairly upset" and were being cared for by their parents at home. Mr McMillan added that there was no missing person locally that would "fit the criteria we are looking for".
Police cordoned off the beach for further investigations
The beach is popular with dog walkers and local children, who are on their Easter break.The beach is popular with dog walkers and local children, who are on their Easter break.
A local female fish worker said: "When I came to work I saw police standing about and then I heard that a head had been found.A local female fish worker said: "When I came to work I saw police standing about and then I heard that a head had been found.
"I watched police examine something on the beach further away and then they came closer and began looking at something else.""I watched police examine something on the beach further away and then they came closer and began looking at something else."
Police cordoned off the beach for further investigations
Patricia Millar, 54, chairwoman of the Royal Burgh of Arbroath community council, said: "This is the kind of thing you hear about in big cities. I never expected it to happen here.Patricia Millar, 54, chairwoman of the Royal Burgh of Arbroath community council, said: "This is the kind of thing you hear about in big cities. I never expected it to happen here.
"My sympathies go out to the two children who made the discovery."My sympathies go out to the two children who made the discovery.
"It must have been terrible to see such a gruesome thing at such a tender age.""It must have been terrible to see such a gruesome thing at such a tender age."
Holiday town
Angus MSP Andrew Welsh said he was in "shock" at what had happened, especially because children were involved.Angus MSP Andrew Welsh said he was in "shock" at what had happened, especially because children were involved.
"The sooner this tragic mystery is cleared up, the better," he said."The sooner this tragic mystery is cleared up, the better," he said.
"This would be a shock in any area of Scotland but especially in Arbroath, which is a family, holiday town."This would be a shock in any area of Scotland but especially in Arbroath, which is a family, holiday town.
"It may well be that future body parts are found and all youngsters should be kept away from the beach.""It may well be that future body parts are found and all youngsters should be kept away from the beach."