06-06-2012, 09:41 AM
CTV News - Vancouver police are searching for answers Wednesday, one day after a human hand and foot were delivered in separate packages to two area schools.
Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke told reporters Tuesday afternoon the first package containing what appeared to be a human hand was opened by a staff member at False Creek Elementary School shortly after 1 p.m. local time.
Another package containing what appeared to be a human foot was found by staff members at the private St. George's School later Tuesday afternoon.
"There is no indication of identity (of the victim) at this time," Lemcke said at a news conference.
Police have not drawn any immediate links to accused killer Luka Rocco Magnotta, saying their investigation is in its early stages and they have yet to identify the victim or determine the origin of the disturbing packages.
However, he said Vancouver police will "liaise" with Montreal police and any other relevant authorities as the investigation unfolds.
CTV's Vancouver Bureau Chief Sarah Galashan said police have launched a major investigation into the packages but so far they have few answers.
"They've put a lot of resources into this, they're not saying how these packages were delivered, they're not confirming whether it was through Canada Post but of course they're looking to see if there's any link to the case in Montreal," Galashan told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday.
Trauma counsellors are being brought in Wednesday for students and staff at both schools, Galashan said.
Magnotta stands accused of murdering a Chinese man who was attending university in Montreal, then sending packages containing a hand, and a foot, to the Conservative Party of Canada's headquarters and to the Liberal Party of Canada.
He was apprehended Monday in Berlin, where he is currently being held pending extradition to Canada.
The B.C. Coroners Service will examine the body parts and they will be sent for DNA testing. Police are also trying to determine where the packages originated, Lemcke said.
"I'd just like to say this must have been a very, very traumatic incident for all involved...in opening these packages," he said, adding that police don't believe any students or staff members were targeted.
Kurt Heinrich, a spokesperson for the Vancouver School Board, told CTV News Channel that students at False Creek Elementary did not see the package. He said staff contacted police as soon as they realized the package was suspicious.
Officials at St. George's all-boys school said students there did not see the package either.
Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke told reporters Tuesday afternoon the first package containing what appeared to be a human hand was opened by a staff member at False Creek Elementary School shortly after 1 p.m. local time.
Another package containing what appeared to be a human foot was found by staff members at the private St. George's School later Tuesday afternoon.
"There is no indication of identity (of the victim) at this time," Lemcke said at a news conference.
Police have not drawn any immediate links to accused killer Luka Rocco Magnotta, saying their investigation is in its early stages and they have yet to identify the victim or determine the origin of the disturbing packages.
However, he said Vancouver police will "liaise" with Montreal police and any other relevant authorities as the investigation unfolds.
CTV's Vancouver Bureau Chief Sarah Galashan said police have launched a major investigation into the packages but so far they have few answers.
"They've put a lot of resources into this, they're not saying how these packages were delivered, they're not confirming whether it was through Canada Post but of course they're looking to see if there's any link to the case in Montreal," Galashan told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday.
Trauma counsellors are being brought in Wednesday for students and staff at both schools, Galashan said.
Magnotta stands accused of murdering a Chinese man who was attending university in Montreal, then sending packages containing a hand, and a foot, to the Conservative Party of Canada's headquarters and to the Liberal Party of Canada.
He was apprehended Monday in Berlin, where he is currently being held pending extradition to Canada.
The B.C. Coroners Service will examine the body parts and they will be sent for DNA testing. Police are also trying to determine where the packages originated, Lemcke said.
"I'd just like to say this must have been a very, very traumatic incident for all involved...in opening these packages," he said, adding that police don't believe any students or staff members were targeted.
Kurt Heinrich, a spokesperson for the Vancouver School Board, told CTV News Channel that students at False Creek Elementary did not see the package. He said staff contacted police as soon as they realized the package was suspicious.
Officials at St. George's all-boys school said students there did not see the package either.
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