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Man's body pulled from river after police chase in Tottenham

Emergency services near the River Lee, Tottenham: Ray Wise Photography
Emergency services near the River Lee, Tottenham: Ray Wise Photography

A man's body has been pulled from a river in north London hours after police lost sight of a suspect during a bicycle chase along the towpath.

Shortly after 9pm on Wednesday, officers patrolling on bicycles along the River Lee towpath in Tottenham approached a group of men.

One of the group was detained while two others fled on bikes and were pursued by police.

After a chase one of suspects was recovered from the water, but officers could not locate the other man.

Officers alerted specialist marine policing teams who searched for the man for several hours overnight, with the assistance of colleagues from the National Police Air Service.

The search resumed in the early hours of Thursday and a body was recovered shortly before 10am, police said.

Police said officers are working to identify the man and establish whether he is the man concerned.

Commander Paul Brogden said: "I fully recognise the concern this incident will cause among members of the local community.

"The matter was referred by our Directorate of Professional Standards to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who have confirmed that they are independently investigating this tragic incident, and how the males came to be in the water.

"Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased male and we will do everything we can to support the IOPC investigation."

A road closure remains in place on Ferry Lane, between the junctions of Mills Mead Road and Bream Close, police said.

The two detained men were both arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and remain in custody at north London police stations.