An inquest has been opened into the deaths of two people after human remains were discovered at a mill in Oldham last month.
27.07.2022 - 21:29 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The possibility that human trafficking played a part in the Oldham mill tragedy is one line of enquiry being investigated by detectives, the Manchester Evening News understands.
Human remains relating to two victims were discovered by demolition workers at the Bismark House Mill on Bower Street this week - more than two months after a huge blaze destroyed the building in May.
At the time of the fire it was believed nobody was inside the mill, but the grim discoveries were made on Saturday (23 July) and today (Wednesday) after GMP received reports that four missing Vietnamese nationals were feared to have been inside the building.
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The M.E.N now understands the force were alerted to the possibility by a Catholic church in London, after they were contacted by a family in Vietnam who hadn't heard from their son in over three months.
Assistant chaplain at the Vietnamese Catholic Community, Father Anthony Nguyen Tri said he was contacted by the man's family who wanted to know if their son was "dead or alive" after hearing about the fire - which started on May 7.
Father Tri said he received the call from the man's family on July 14 and after carrying out some research about the Bismark Mill blaze, informed Greater Manchester Police on July 21.
It is not known whether the man is one of the victims found inside the mill and formal identification is yet to take place. Police say they are continuing to try and contact "potential" family members in Vietnam.
Officials from the Vietnamese embassy have also been drafted in to help with the investigation and to assist with identifying the deceased. The Deputy Ambassador to the UK was pictured at the
An inquest has been opened into the deaths of two people after human remains were discovered at a mill in Oldham last month.
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